Latest news with #JohnHlophe
IOL News
30-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
MK Party's John Hlophe declares no properties or gifts
Dr John Hlophe, Deputy President of the MK Party, has declared no financial or material interests in the June 2025 Register of Members' Interests. In a move that might raise some eyebrows, Dr John Hlophe, Member of Parliament and Deputy President of the MK Party, has declared no financial or material interests across all categories in the latest Register of Members' Interests for June 2025. According to the official submission, Hlophe marked 'Nothing to disclose' under every category, including shares and financial interests, remunerated work outside Parliament, directorships and partnerships, consultancies, sponsorships, gifts, free loans, travel, land and property ownership, pensions, rented property, income-generating assets, and trusts. Hlophe, formerly Judge President of the Western Cape High Court, entered the political space after a long and controversial judicial career. He was a central figure in multiple high-profile judicial controversies, including accusations of judicial misconduct that led to his impeachment by Parliament in early 2024. Following his removal from the judiciary, Hlophe joined the MK Party, a political party led by former President Jacob Zuma. In the 2024 general elections, he secured a seat in the National Assembly.
Mail & Guardian
28-07-2025
- Politics
- Mail & Guardian
MK party to square off in court against Ramaphosa and Mchunu
In the dog box: Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, who comes from KwaZulu-Natal, has been put on 'special leave' by President Cyril Ramaphosa. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy The At the centre of the case are questions about the limits of presidential power, the legality of acting appointments and whether Ramaphosa acted rationally when he established a judicial commission of inquiry into serious allegations of criminal infiltration of law enforcement agencies. Ramaphosa suspended Mchunu after serious allegations by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi that he colluded with a criminal syndicate, accepted illicit payments, interfered in investigations and disbanded a specialised task force into political killings. Through its deputy president, John Hlophe, the MK party argues in court papers that Ramaphosa acted outside the bounds of the Constitution when he suspended Mchunu and installed Cachalia, who is not a cabinet minister, to act in his place. 'The president has no constitutional authority to place a minister on leave,' Hlophe argued, describing the measure as 'a fancy phrase for suspension with pay'. He insisted that ministers are political appointees, not employees, and therefore not subject to labour law. In a supporting affidavit, Zuma accused Ramaphosa of 'inventing new powers' not grounded in law, calling the president's interpretation of the Constitution 'indecipherable gobbledygook'. Ramaphosa, in his response, argued that his power to appoint and dismiss ministers include the discretion to place them on special leave, especially under circumstances that require an impartial investigation. 'This is not a punitive measure,' the president said. 'It is an interim step to preserve the integrity of the inquiry.' He said the Constitution vests in him the discretion to manage the cabinet and to act in the public interest when questions of credibility arise. Addressing concerns about Cachalia's appointment, Ramaphosa said he had followed a formal process. He said Cachalia was first to be appointed as a minister and then assigned the police portfolio on an acting basis. Hlophe dismissed this as a legal 'contrivance' and accused the president of manipulating constitutional provisions to serve political ends. He said the inquiry chaired by the acting deputy chief justice, Ramaphosa said the allegations made by Mkhwanazi were serious and required a process that would not be clouded by political interference or public suspicion. According to Mkhwanazi, the disbandment of the police's political killings task team was linked to efforts by criminal syndicates to capture the state's security architecture, a claim Mchunu has strongly denied. In his affidavit, Mchunu said Mkhwanazi's allegations were both 'unsubstantiated' and misinformed. He said he had instructed national police commissioner Fannie Masemola to disband the unit based on operational assessments, not political motives. Mchunu also criticised the timing of Mkhwanazi's public statements, arguing that the KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner did not inform him of his intentions to make allegations. 'He did not afford me any right to comment on the nature and basis of his intended 'revelations' before he made them. I was taken by complete surprise on 6 July 2025, when I learnt that Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi had called a press conference at short notice in order to level serious allegations against me,' Mchunu said. 'What is even more unfortunate is that the allegations he made against me relate to events which on his own version occurred several months ago, in particular, my decision in relation to the disbandment of the political killings task team. 'General Mkhwanazi had ample time to liaise with me and afford me a right to respond to any concerns that he may have had before he went into the public domain and made his extravagant and misinformed allegations.' Mchunu further stated that he had informed Ramaphosa of his willingness to cooperate with the inquiry, and denied that the ANC's The Madlanga commission has been tasked with investigating the infiltration of law enforcement and intelligence agencies by criminal syndicates. Its terms of reference include the South African Police Service, metropolitan police departments, the State Security Agency, the NPA and parts of the judiciary. The commission has the power to summon witnesses, compel documents and, in limited cases, conduct search-and-seizure operations. According to a government gazette last week, the commission may also recommend prosecutions, internal disciplinary steps and systemic reforms. Interim reports are expected within three and six months, with a final report to be submitted to the speaker of the National Assembly, Thoko Didiza, and Chief Justice Mandisa Maya.
IOL News
03-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
MK Party DP John Hlophe confirms he fired Ndhlela, asserts confidence in Chief Whip Makhubele
MKP Parliamentary leader Dr John Hlophe stated the party is not falling apart, as has been claimed by the media. Image: File The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) has confirmed that Colleen Makhubele remains firmly in her position as Chief Whip, despite purported suggestions of a petition calling for her removal. At a press briefing held in Parliament on Thursday, MKP parliamentary leader Dr John Hlophe said a letter had been sent to party president Jacob Zuma to oust Makhubele were entirely false. 'There is no letter, there is no petition, in terms of which MPs are calling for the head of the Chief Whip. This is a figment of someone's imagination,' said Hlophe. 'Quite frankly, I would have been the first person to receive that petition. I asked President Zuma as late as last night. There is no such letter. Comrade Colleen Makhubele remains the Chief Whip. She is very good. She is very effective.' The party said recent internal changes, including the removal of spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela from its whippery, were strategic and administrative, not evidence of factionalism. Hlophe explained that the MKP is reorienting itself towards legislative impact and preparing constitutional amendments, including a proposed revision of Section 235 of the Constitution, which relates to self-determination. 'We don't believe South Africa belongs to just anyone who lives here,' Hlophe said. 'You must be a citizen of this country before you can say, 'I am a South African.' You can't visit here for two weeks and say, 'I love Constantia, I live here now, I must benefit'. We are bringing serious amendments to the Constitution, and that means realignment of internal parliamentary functions.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading On the matter of the former deputy whip, Ndhlela, who contested his removal, Hlophe confirmed that a termination letter had been sent and received. 'Initially, he said he hadn't received the letter. When it became clear that he had, he changed the story and said the signature on the letter was forged. I can confirm that the letter came from my office.' Makhubele said the rumours had caused unnecessary disruption and she expressed disappointment at how the matter played out publicly. 'As a new Chief Whip, it's only been a month, it's been a very stormy time,' said Makhubele. 'I must say it has also been productive, and I appreciate the full cooperation of all MKP caucus members. I want to thank President Zuma and the leadership for entrusting me with this responsibility.' Responding to the rumoured petition against her, Makhubele said, 'There is no such letter. I haven't seen it. The caucus hasn't seen it. We're coming from a caucus meeting, and we're all shocked. It has dented our image, and we want to ensure this never happens again.' She emphasised that the MKP caucus is made up of members from diverse political backgrounds but unified under one constitutional vision. 'All of us, whether we came from COPE, ACDP, the DA or the Patriotic Alliance, have aligned ourselves with the MK Party constitution and the people's mandate,' she said. Hlophe added that the restructuring of the party's parliamentary leadership, including the removal of a dedicated whip for communications, was part of a broader shift to prioritise legislative and constitutional work. 'We don't want to be just an opposition party,' he said. 'We regard ourselves as a government in waiting. That means realigning how we work in Parliament so that we're not only active, but effective.' The party also introduced its new portfolio leaders, described as equivalent to shadow ministers, who will lead on key areas such as public service, land reform, and economic transformation. Makhubele said the MKP's legislative priorities will include land expropriation without compensation, decolonisation of the economy, and constitutional recognition of traditional leaders. 'This is why we are aligning our whippery to our strategic vision. The whip on legislation is critical for us. When we come into power, there are specific laws we want to govern with, and we must already be preparing the ground for that,' she said. She also committed to stronger constituency work and deeper public engagement: 'We want our presence in committees and Parliament to have an impact. We are going to mobilise our grassroots and sharpen our focus to deal with the failures of the so-called Government of National Unity.' Hlophe concluded by urging the public and media to distinguish between internal party administration and deliberate misinformation. 'These are operational changes, not a caucus crisis,' he said. 'The Chief Whip is not going anywhere.'
IOL News
03-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
MK Party denies infighting, reaffirms confidence in Chief Whip Makhubele
MKP Parliamentary leader Dr John Hlophe stated the party is not falling apart, as has been claimed by the media. Image: File The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) has strongly denied allegations of internal infighting and confirmed that Colleen Makhubele remains firmly in her position as Chief Whip, despite purported suggestions of a petition calling for her removal. At a press briefing held in Parliament on Thursday, MKP parliamentary leader Dr John Hlophe said reports suggesting a letter had been sent to party president Jacob Zuma to oust Makhubele were entirely false. 'There is no letter, there is no petition, in terms of which MPs are calling for the head of the Chief Whip. This is a figment of someone's imagination,' said Hlophe. 'Quite frankly, I would have been the first person to receive that petition. I asked President Zuma as late as last night. There is no such letter. Comrade Colleen Makhubele remains the Chief Whip. She is very good. She is very effective.' The party said recent internal changes, including the removal of some individuals from its whippery, were strategic and administrative, not evidence of factionalism. Hlophe explained that the MKP is reorienting itself towards legislative impact and preparing constitutional amendments, including a proposed revision of Section 235 of the Constitution, which relates to self-determination. 'We don't believe South Africa belongs to just anyone who lives here,' Hlophe said. 'You must be a citizen of this country before you can say, 'I am a South African.' You can't visit here for two weeks and say, 'I love Constantia, I live here now, I must benefit'. We are bringing serious amendments to the Constitution, and that means realignment of internal parliamentary functions.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ On the matter of a deputy whip, Nhlamulo Ndhlela, who contested his removal, Hlophe confirmed that a termination letter had been sent and received. 'Initially, he said he hadn't received the letter. When it became clear that he had, he changed the story and said the signature on the letter was forged. I can confirm that the letter came from my office.' Chief Whip Colleen Makhubele said the rumours had caused unnecessary disruption and she expressed disappointment at how the matter played out publicly. 'As a new Chief Whip, it's only been a month, it's been a very stormy time,' said Makhubele. 'I must say it has also been productive, and I appreciate the full cooperation of all MKP caucus members. I want to thank President Zuma and the leadership for entrusting me with this responsibility.' Responding to the rumoured petition against her, Makhubele said, 'There is no such letter. I haven't seen it. The caucus hasn't seen it. We're coming from a caucus meeting, and we're all shocked. It has dented our image, and we want to ensure this never happens again.' She emphasised that the MKP caucus is made up of members from diverse political backgrounds but unified under one constitutional vision. 'All of us, whether we came from COPE, ACDP, the DA or the Patriotic Alliance, have aligned ourselves with the MK Party constitution and the people's mandate,' she said. Hlophe added that the restructuring of the party's parliamentary leadership, including the removal of a dedicated whip for communications, was part of a broader shift to prioritise legislative and constitutional work. 'We don't want to be just an opposition party,' he said. 'We regard ourselves as a government in waiting. That means realigning how we work in Parliament so that we're not only active, but effective.' The party also introduced its new portfolio leaders, described as equivalent to shadow ministers, who will lead on key areas such as public service, land reform, and economic transformation. Makhubele said the MKP's legislative priorities will include land expropriation without compensation, decolonisation of the economy, and constitutional recognition of traditional leaders. 'This is why we are aligning our whippery to our strategic vision. The whip on legislation is critical for us. When we come into power, there are specific laws we want to govern with, and we must already be preparing the ground for that,' she said. She also committed to stronger constituency work and deeper public engagement: 'We want our presence in committees and Parliament to have an impact. We are going to mobilise our grassroots and sharpen our focus to deal with the failures of the so-called Government of National Unity.' Hlophe concluded by urging the public and media to distinguish between internal party administration and deliberate misinformation. 'These are operational changes, not a caucus crisis,' he said. 'The Chief Whip is not going anywhere.'
The Citizen
10-06-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
uMkhonto weSizwe party's politics of convenience
It is ironic that the MK party has put itself forward as an organisation that fights for issues on principle when its own internal operations are not. When the Western Cape High Court in Cape Town ruled that it makes no sense for an impeached judge to sit on a body that selects judges, it struck a blow for the good guy in South Africa. For far too long a situation has been allowed to develop where the three arms of state, the judiciary, the executive and the legislature, are constantly being put at odds with each other, not for the positive development of the country, but for selfish short-term interests of corrupt individuals and their political parties. But this time, the judiciary said no, common sense must prevail. John Hlophe, who was impeached as a judge, cannot take part in the process of selecting judges. Former president Jacob Zuma's party uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party has vowed to appeal the judgment on principle and not simply to have Hlophe reinstated to the Judicial Service Commission. It is not because it benefits the country that they want this to happen, but simply that it benefits the MK to have a decision of the legislature overturned by the courts. This way, the MK, although just the thirdbiggest party in parliament, can get to 'govern through the courts', something parties of the left have always accused opposition parties to the right of the political divide, like the DA, of doing. It is ironic that the MK has put itself forward as a party that fights for issues on principle when its own internal operations are nowhere close to being based on a set of established principles that can be identified by all and sundry, especially its own members. Its recently fired secretary-general (SG), Floyd Shivambu, found out in the most painful way that where there are no defined principles, anybody can be a victim. He was fired as SG for what he thought was acceptable within the party: identifying with a disgraced fugitive. He saw nothing wrong with that but was fired for it. ALSO READ: Court finds impeached judge John Hlophe unfit to serve on JSC Truth be told though it was not for meeting pastor Shepherd Bushiri that he was fired. The MK has shown a lot of brazenness when it comes to dealing with corruption-tainted prominent individuals that it has become their political home. In the bigger scheme of things, by their own standards, a meeting with Bushiri wouldn't move their moral needle. It was simply that Shivambu had served his purpose in the party. He was parachuted in to demonstrate that the party was not a Zuma one-man-show, an ethnically defined entity based in one province, but that it had appeal to all South Africans. Sadly, the learned Shivambu fell for the ruse and centred himself in a party where he was always an unwanted outsider from day one. Shivambu probably believed that he could mould the MK into the revolutionary force that he always publicly pronounced it to be but, from the beginning, he had to contend with defending unprincipled decisions, such as wanting parliament to accept that an impeached judge was a fit and proper person. In other words, honesty and good moral judgment could be sacrificed at the convenience of the party. That judgment by the court goes to the heart of what is wrong with this country and its politics: an organisation that does not embrace democracy in its own internal operations wants to control the outcomes of a democratically elected legislature and have them overturned. The lesson for Shivambu and the MK is that good, morally-based judgments might appear expendable in achieving short-term goals, but history leans towards what is right for society. NOW READ: MK party removes Floyd Shivambu as SG
