The uMkhonto weSizwe Party removed former public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane as treasurer-general and ex-KwaZulu-Natal premier Willies Mchunu as chief whip on Wednesday. Provincial structures in at least two provinces were dissolved and replaced with interim committees.
Why it matters: MK is the third-largest party in parliament and governs in coalition in KwaZulu-Natal. Repeated leadership purges raise questions about the party’s capacity to deliver stable governance.
The changes
The party’s national command council announced the removals without providing reasons. Mkhwebane had served as treasurer-general since defecting from the EFF in October 2024. Mchunu, a former ANC provincial premier, joined MK at the same time and was appointed chief whip.
MK has now changed its chief whip at least three times since the start of the current parliamentary term. Brian Molefe was named treasurer in a January reshuffle that also removed national organiser Colleen Makhubele.
Internal turmoil
Political analysts described the pattern as symptomatic of a party built around a single leader rather than institutional structures. The Sunday Times reported on 30 March that the party was “in denial” about internal chaos, with faction fights playing out across provincial structures.
The dissolved provincial committees will be replaced by interim task teams appointed from the national leadership. Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela described the changes as “routine organisational renewal” and denied any link to internal conflict.
What it signals
Opposition parties were quick to respond. DA chief whip Siviwe Gwarube said the revolving door of MK leadership positions “proves what we have always said: this is not a serious political party.” The ANC declined to comment on its former ally’s internal affairs.
MK held 58 seats after the 2024 election, making it the official opposition in KwaZulu-Natal and a significant force in national politics. Whether the latest purge stabilises or further fragments the party will become clearer as the 2026 local government election cycle approaches.