Zuma's bold move: Deputy suspension aims to stabilise MKP ahead of elections

In suspending his deputy, Dr John Hlophe, from all party activities, uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) leader Jacob Zuma aims to stabilise his party ahead of next year’s local government elections, which it will contest for the first time.  

This was the view of some of the party’s members, who rejected the notion that the almost three-year-old party is losing voters’ trust due to the abrupt removal of leaders from positions and disunity. 

The party, which was formed in December 2023, recently made headlines for the wrong reasons when Hlophe, as its parliamentary caucus leader, replaced Collen Makhubele with Des van Rooyen as the party’s parliamentary chief whip. 

Having Zuma, a former state president, Hlophe, the former Western Cape judge president, former police minister Nathi Nhleko, and former state entities CEOs Siyabonga Gama, Lucky Montana, and Brian Molefe, the party is seen as having an abundance of quality and experienced leaders.

Hlophe could not be located for comment, but questions were sent to his lawyer, Barnabas Xulu, who had not responded by the time of publication. 

Collen’s demotion happened while Zuma was in North Africa visiting the Burkina Faso President Ibrahim Traoré. 

The leaders said Zuma took “a correct” decision to suspend Hlophe. 

“It was not the first time he had decided without consultation. He first removed Nhlamulo Ndhlela without the approval of the higher structure,” said the KwaZulu-Natal-based leader.

Hlophe, who joined Parliament in June 2024, also removed Jacob Zuma Foundation's spokesperson Mzwanele Manyi on May 27 from his position as chief whip with immediate effect and replaced him with Makhubele.   

The party also fired Floyd Shivambu, the then-general secretary, who had a fallout with Zuma’s daughter, Duduzile Zuma, in July after being accused of serious violations of party trust and ideological misalignment. 

Shivambu was expelled after he visited Malawi, where he controversially met a criminal fugitive preacher, Shepherd Bushiri, who skipped bail in South Africa.

Soon after last year’s general elections, which the party contested for the first time, 18 members who claimed to have played a crucial role in campaigning for the elections approached the Western Cape High Court, challenging their removal as MPs.

University of KwaZulu-Natal political analyst Zakhele Ndlovu sees the never-ending leadership changes as a strong sign of instability, clash of personalities, and lack of professionalism in terms of how the party is run. 

He linked the situation to Zuma's lack of decisiveness and “high degree of insecurity”.

He said the root of the problem was that the leaders were appointed instead of being elected by a conference. 

“Zuma is making it known that MKP is his baby and does as he pleases. Basically... his actions send a message that his word is final. 

“Zuma is calling the shots, and other leaders serve at his pleasure. It can't function without holding an elective conference,” said Ndlovu.

He predicted that the situation might jeopardise the MKP’s preparation for the local government elections, as some voters seem to have lost confidence “after watching the circus that is unfolding before their eyes”.

“This is the same party that deployed people to Parliament and abruptly recalled them. 

“Clearly, there is confusion, and the party comes across as if it doesn't know what it is doing,” said Ndlovu.

This was while there were allegations of the looting of R70 million, which Parliament gave the party to set up its constituency offices in all provinces

MKP secretary-general, Dr Bongani Mncwango, said the party would announce what would happen to Hlophe after its meeting on Tuesday.

“No, I cannot say the party is unstable if there are adjustments that need to be made.

“But for now, there is nothing concrete to tell you until Tuesday,” said Mncwango.

He said the party would soon start preparing for the elections. 

Another party leader said that although Zuma was the ultimate decision maker, he would decide after having consulted the party’s High Command structure.

The leader, who spared Zuma from blame, accused Hlophe of lacking consultation.

He said Hlophe’s actions were disappointing since he was appointed a caucus leader and deputy president based on his background as a former “highly respected judge”.

“I asked myself why he takes such action without consultation, being the second-highest member of the National High Command.

“Since the president was out of the country at the time, he (Hlophe) should have waited for the rest of the High Command members because there was no rush for him to make a decision,” the leader said.

He said before suspending Hlophe, Zuma consulted other members of the High Command. 

“President Zuma consults and he is one democrat when it comes to consultation in South African politics, perhaps second after Olive Tambo.” 

He said Zuma does not suspend members without first consulting the command team. 

“He does not decide in a spur-of-the-moment. He suspended Hlophe pending internal discussions, which include a consultation with Judge Hlophe.

“We are waiting for the National High Command to investigate the issue, which Hlophe will raise as a reason for him to demote Makhubele and appoint Van Rooyen without consultation,” said the leader.

Another leader said the situation would not dent the MKP’s reputation. 

“The only fear we have is when Zuma becomes incapacitated because he is the pull factor.

“Another problem that might happen will be the lack of discipline during the nomination of council candidates, because if you nominate people’s favourites, you have already won,” he said.

Professor Bheki Mngomezulu, another political analyst, said the impression that some decisions have been taken without consultation ruins the party’s reputation.

“It is up to the party to rectify these things sooner rather than later. 

“Now that they have suspended Hlophe, they have taken a correct decision, but they must investigate and bring the case to a finality to avoid people guessing, because if people are guessing, the voter confidence gets affected,” said Mngomezulu.  

bongani.hans@inl.co.za