Latest news with #uMkhontoweSizweParty
IOL News
2 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Phumlani Mfeka emerges as front-runner for MKP Secretary-General position
Phumlani Mfeka is tipped to replace Floyd Shivambu as a new MKP Secretary-General. Image: Supplied As speculations gather momentum on who the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) supreme commander Jacob Zuma was considering to appoint as the new party Secretary-General following the axing of Floyd Shivambu, Phumlani Mfeka has emerged as the front runner for the position. The position became vacant after the party axed Shivambu on Tuesday following his unsanctioned trip to Malawi, where he attended a church service of a fugitive pastor, Shepherd Bushiri, who skipped bail in South Africa in 2020. Mfeka, the leader of socio-economic group Injeje yaBenguni, which advocates for African nationalism, was expected to hold a meeting with Zuma in Durban on Thursday. Sources within the party said the discussion will be followed by Mfeka's announcement as the new Secretary-General. Mfeka commands a lot of support from traditional leaders, something that Zuma regards as an important constituency for his party. Mfeka confirmed earlier on Thursday that he would meet Zuma in Durban but refused to be drawn on what they would discuss in their meeting, saying it was a private meeting between himself and the party leader. Mfeka's name had always been mentioned as a possible successor to Shivambu after rumours of his (Shivambu's) future in the position started circulating. The rumours were fueled by Shivambu's fallout with Zuma's daughter Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, who publicly insulted him and questioned his leadership, as well as Mfeka himself, who, when resigning as both a party member and a member in the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature, cited issues with Shivambu as one of the reasons. Other names that emerged on Tuesday after Shivambu's fall were former ActionSA member and founder of Xiluba Party, Bongani Baloyi, who joined the MKP in September last year, and Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane. However, sources in the party said Zuma will opt for Mfeka because of his support among traditional leaders and traditionalists, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal, which is the party's stronghold. It is believed that Zuma convinced Mfeka to return to the MK Party because he (Zuma) felt he needed Mfeka and his constituency in the party. Mfeka has been Zuma's strong backer before the founding of the MK Party and immediately joined after it was launched in 2023. He was on the national list to parliament during last year's general elections, however, he was deployed to serve in the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature and sat in various portfolio committees. He was among the dissenting voices within the party who were unhappy that senior positions were given to the newcomers while overlooking the founding members. If Mfeka gets appointed, he will be the fourth person to hold the secretary-general position in the party after Arthur Zwane, Sihle Ngubane, and Shivambu. [email protected].
IOL News
2 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
MK Party redeployment or reckoning? Oh Floyd Shivambu, it was always going to end in tears
Floyd Shivambu has been removed as the MK Party secretary general, just a few months after clashing with former president Jacob Zuma's daughter, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla. Image: Sihle Mlambo/IOL It was only a matter of time until the tide turned violently against Floyd Shivambu in the uMkhonto weSizwe Party. The official stance from the MK Party is that Shivambu violated the MK Party Constitution, ironically, a document he is credited for penning. However, his tumultuous relationship with Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, the sweetheart daughter of former president Jacob Zuma, cannot be ignored. Of course, Zuma-Sambudla publicly admonished Shivambu with expletives, describing him as the "worst thing that has happened to the MK Party". She later, reluctantly, apologised, only after being publicly lashed by her dad. But, since that day, the daggers have been out for Shivambu. What followed, despite the apology, were attacks aimed at the SG, from MK Party Youth leaders and factions seen as sympathetic to Dudu, as she is affectionately known. Speaking to Newzroom Afrika, Dr MK Zwakala, a political brand analyst, remarked that if indeed Shivambu had contravened the party constitution, why was he being redeployed, instead of being made to apologise and ultimately, facing a disciplinary. Zwakala believes that 'there is much more beyond the Bushiri visit', and it is difficult to disagree with this analysis. Of course, the official stance is that the fired secretary general violated the party's constitution, specifically concerning Section 3(J), which states: 'Undertaking international trips and participating in activities and programmes that are opposed to the agenda of the MK Party or an allied party'. MK Party chairperson Nathi Nhleko said this referred to Shivambu's Bushiri visit in Malawi during the Easter weekend, where Shivambu was seen openly rubbing shoulders with the fugitive pastor Shepherd Bushiri, even describing the fugitive as a Pan Africanist with vision and community impact - despite him being accused of raping young girls in South Africa. 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 Really Floyd? For one applauded for his academic stature, clarity and as a known Marxist scholar, why would you wish to associate with such, thuggery? One of the IOL headlines at the time of the Bushiri mess screamed: 'What are you doing Floyd?' What followed was high-profile public lashings from no less than the Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi, giving Shivambu's detractors, internally, fuel to remove him - for visiting his "brother", Bushiri. 'After lengthy discussions and considerable inputs from the National Officials, it was concluded that the actions by the Secretary General were found to be against the spirit and the prescripts of the MK Party Constitution. 'Noting that on the 12 March 2025, The Republic of Malawi's Chief Resident Magistrate delivered a ruling that granted the South African Republic's request for the extradition, it is common knowledge that Bishop Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary Bushiri skipped bail, and are to return to South Africa to stand trial on various charges. Thank you my brother, Prophet Bushiri for hosting us and for the kind words. The government scale amount of work you do to economically, educationally, socially and spiritually uplift our people is unparalleled now and in history. I know that the leadership and people of Malawi… — Floyd Shivambu (@FloydShivambu) April 19, 2025 'Based on the deliberations by the National Officials, it was reaffirmed that the trip was not an officially sanctioned programme of the organisation or the President, which therefore goes against the constitution of the party. The MK Party and its leadership, has been approached by members of various sectors of civil society and has taken due consideration of the gravity of this matter. 'Due to the serious nature of this matter and its implications for the party, its image, values and principles, The President and the National Officials were left with no other option but to act swiftly in addressing this matter. Consequently, as a responsible organisation accountable to its electorate and the broader society, the National Officials have come to a decision to redeploy Commander Floyd Shivambu as the Secretary General of the party, and redeploy him to the National Assembly. 'We believe that his redeployment will strengthen the MK Party caucus as the Official Opposition, as Commander Shivambu carries a wealth of experience as a former member of Parliament,' read Nhleko on behalf of the MK Party leadership. Under Zuma's leadership of the MK Party, there has been one consistent theme: instability. The position of secretary general appears to be a poisoned chalice, with those adorned the title of SG barely lasting in the job. Shivambu has been the longest serving SG thus far in that revolving door, but the mistake he made was to fail to read the room. Once he publicly clashes with Dudu, there was only ever going to be one winner, and that was never going to be the former leader of the EFF. When Shivambu left the Economic Freedom Fighters to join the MK Party last year, it shocked all and sundry, including his former ally and Siamese twin, Julius Malema, who had famously declared to all that Uncle Floyd be part of a delegation to see him off should he die. At the time, we warned in a column that the Floyd Shivambu-MKP dalliance could spell the end for the MKP-EFF-led Progressive Caucus - and the events of the past nine months have proved devastating for the so-called progressive left, with little unity between the two main parties, the MKP and the EFF. When Shivambu was appointed national organizer of the MK Party, the honest politician - as Zuma described him upon joining from the EFF - denounced smaller political parties, characterising them as 'fiefdoms of individuals'. At the time, his remarks were aimed at the EFF's Julius Malema, but he was careful to state that it wasn't, instead pointing to the United Democratic Movement of Bantu Holomisa and the Inkatha Freedom Party, formerly of the late Mangosuthu Buthelezi. But Malema, Holomisa and Buthelezi aside, the MKP is also Zuma's little fiefdom, run in the image and disguise of Zuma's wishes, and perhaps those of his daughter, Duduzile. The MKP has shown in character and the manifesting chaos around it, that it is exactly that too. Zuma pleaded for time for the party during an hour long speech, and he asserted yet again, that people would be fired, should they not perform. And Shivambu, and many others, have been fired in the past year, as Zuma still has the ultimate powers to hire and fire as he pleases. With Magasela Mzobe as the Head of the Presidency at the Private Office of President Zuma, Shivambu has an ally in the former ANC Youth League leader who can do some of his bidding for him. But unlike Mzobe, there are hundreds more around the MK Party leadership who are far less sympathetic and who have little appreciation for Shivambu and his Marxist virtues.
IOL News
3 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
MK proposes major constitutional changes: land, elections, compulsory military service
The MK Party's proposed constitutional amendments seek to reclaim land, recognize indigenous languages, and prioritize South African citizens, framing the Constitution as a transformative tool for justice and sovereignty. Image: Tumi Pakkies/Independent Media The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) has submitted a comprehensive set of proposed constitutional amendments to the Constitutional Review process for 2025 that will see changes to how South Africa elects its leaders, land redistribution, a state bank and compulsory military service. The party says its proposals aim to "affirm national sovereignty" and reframe South Africa's Constitution as a "transformation document which puts the interests of the citizens first and addresses historical injustices committed against the indigenous majority." According to MK Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela, 'South Africa belongs to all its citizens, united in our diversity.' This revised clause sets the tone for the rest of the proposals, which the party frames as citizen-centred and de-colonial in nature. Key among the proposed amendments is the revision of Section 25 of the Constitution to allow for land expropriation without compensation. The MK Party argues the current framework protects the property rights of the beneficiaries of "colonial and apartheid land theft" and forces the state to compensate for stolen land. The land issue remains deeply contentious in South Africa and has drawn international attention. This comes after President Donald Trump controversially claimed there was a genocide in South Africa. This claim resurfaced when a second, small group of white Afrikaners quietly arrived in the US under Trump's offer to resettle them amid false claims of white genocide and persecution. IOL reported that during a high-level meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa last month, Trump asserted that he had received numerous complaints about the treatment of Afrikaners, alleging brutal murders and land seizures. These claims were widely criticised by the South African government as unfounded and inflammatory. The MK Party also wants to introduce direct presidential elections, giving voters the power to elect the president outside party structures, without abolishing party-based processes. Language inclusion is another focal point. The MK Party proposes that Khoi and San Nama languages be officially recognised, aiming to safeguard indigenous heritage. The party also proposes enshrining the right to full employment, rather than just access to job opportunities. In the realm of marriage, the MK Party seeks to constitutionally differentiate traditional marriages from other unions, classifying the latter as civil unions while maintaining their full legal protections. In terms of public services, the party proposes prioritising South African citizens ' access to healthcare, housing, and education. 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 Earlier this week ActionSA's parliamentary leader, Athol Trollip, said his party also seeks to amend sections of the Bill of Rights to limit the state's obligation to non-citizens. Trollip said: 'The current universal application of Section 26 has led to unintended consequences,' referencing municipal housing pressures. He further cited health clinics in Johannesburg reporting that over 70% of patient files belong to foreign nationals and that court-ordered school enrolments are straining education resources. The MK Party also proposes restricting citizenship rights to those born of two South African citizen parents and limiting voting rights to individuals with only South African citizenship, citing a need to "ensure patriotism and allegiance to the South African Republic." The party wants to introduce term limits for ministers, premiers, and mayors to promote accountability. It proposes relocating Parliament from the Western Cape to align with the executive and judiciary, arguing this move will harmonise governance structures. In line with promoting national identity and discipline, the party calls for compulsory military service for citizens aged 18 to 25. Another major shift proposed is the nationalisation of strategic mineral resources and the creation of a sovereign wealth fund to manage and distribute the nation's mineral wealth equitably. The MK Party also supports establishing a state bank with constitutional authority to print currency, which it says will contribute to the decolonisation of the economy and end the monopoly of white capital. The party further proposes realigning Chapter Nine institutions by merging the Office of the Public Protector with the Special Investigating Unit and elevating the National Prosecuting Authority into a Chapter Nine institution. It says these changes will improve the functionality and coordination of oversight institutions. 'These amendments seek to strengthen a citizen-centred constitutional dispensation to forge a constitutional arrangement that puts the citizens first,' said Ndhlela. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. IOL Politics
IOL News
3 days ago
- General
- IOL News
Tuesday's court outcome in the arms deal matter means Jacob Zuma has to stand trial – here are some reactions on X
A glum uMkhonto weSizwe Party boss Jacob Zuma contemplates his future after losing his bid to avoid prosecution for corruption relating to the 1999 Arms Deal. The Pietermaritzburg High Court has dismissed French arms company Thales' and former president Jacob Zuma's application to have charges against them relating to the 1999 Arms Deal squashed. @ZANewsFlash The Pietermaritzburg High Court has thrown out an application by French arms company Thales and former President Jacob Zuma to have their arms deal corruption trial dismissed. The corruption trial will now proceed as previously planned. @WothiJiba The Jacob Zuma/Thales case has nothing to do with justice. It has nothing to do with the awarding of arms deal contracts nor is there an allegation that he stole money from Government, yet the state has spent hundreds of millions on the case. Wasteful expenditure. @incontroZA It was politically motivated. Ramaphosa is going all out to get rid of Magashule and Jacob Zuma. Their cases won't end. Plus the Unchallenged, sole candidate for President is on the way. @Dumisan01399730 Former premier of Mpumalanga Province Matthew Phosa once said ' hate Jacob Zuma but don't lie about him'. By nature Jacob Zuma is a good person who accommodate everyone else. His good heart has made him to be vulnerable even to those who want to destroy him. @Sthe___Nxumalo It was always obvious that anything that has Adv Dali Mpofu & Jacob Zuma will never win anything in court — even if witness were all dead & evidence is absent, they would still stand trial & be found guilty. They can just always appeal & appeal to kill time! @Theblackjagua12 When was the last time Zuma won a case? @RogerKint69 Medical parole loading... @Lephondo2Mpho Knowing Mr Zuma, he's taking this judgement to the Supreme Court, to delay his date in court. DAILY NEWS
The Star
3 days ago
- Business
- The Star
MK Party axes Floyd Shivambu as SG over controversial visit with Prophet Shepherd Bushiri
Willem Phungula | Published 3 hours ago The Jacob Zuma-led MK Party (MKP) has fired Floyd Shivambu from his Secretary-General position for an unsanctioned visit with controversial Malawian fugitive Prophet Shepherd Bushiri who fled South Africa in 2020. Bushiri and his wife Mary fled the country in 2020 after being granted bail on charges including fraud and money laundering. A Malawian court recently granted South Africa's request to extradite the couple to face charges, including rape and fraud, and they have indicated their intention to appeal. In a statement read by the party's national chairperson Nkosinathi Nhleko, the party said Shivambu's visit to Bushiri was not sanctioned by the party and violated its' constitution. The party also announced that Shivambu will be redeployed to parliament. Jacob Zuma attended the press conference to announce Shivambu's axing on Tuesday in Durban and there were signs before the conference even started that Shivambu no longer part of the top leadership - he chose to sit closer to the media contingent and away from Zuma. 'On Monday, President Jacob Zuma met with the National Officials of uMkhonto weSizwe Party, to reflect on the state of the organisation. As part of the deliberations of the national officials, the matter pertaining to the recent trip undertaken by the Secretary General Floyd Shivambu to Malawi was reflected upon. "After lengthy discussions and considerable inputs from the national officials, it was concluded that the actions by (Shivambu) were found to be against the spirit and the prescripts of the MK Party Constitution. Most specifically, Section 3 (j) under 'Offences', which stipulates the following: j) Undertaking international trips and participating in activities and programmes that are opposed to the agenda of the MK Party or an allied party,' Nhleko said, reading from the statement In addition, the party said the visit came after the Republic of Malawi's Chief Resident Magistrate delivered a ruling that granted South Africa request for extradition. 'Based on the deliberations by the National Officials, it was reaffirmed that the trip was not an officially sanctioned programme of the organisation or the President, which therefore goes against the constitution of the party. "Due to the serious nature of this matter and its implications for the party, its image, values and principles, The President and the n ational officials were left with no other option but to act swiftly in addressing this m atter,' Nhleko said. Shivambu joined the MKP from the EFF in August last year and was immediately appointed as the national organiser, in November he was elevated to the position Secretary-General. In response, Shivambu said he had accepted that he had been removed as Secretary-General, saying he regretted his decision to go to Malawi. He also thanked Zuma for entrusting him with high positions in the party. Despite the party's citing of Shivambu's Malawi trip, dissenting voices within the party have also accused him giving senior positions to newcomers while overlooking founding members. Shivambu last month said no party member had raised their unhappiness with him in formal meetings of the party and he would not entertain faceless voices on social media platforms. [email protected]
