By Celani Sikhakhane
- Five MKP members who support fired Chief Whip Mervyn Dirks voted against party orders during the KZN legislature Revenue Bill vote.
- ANC says MKP’s messy behaviour proves voting for them was a big mistake as party fights continue to destroy the organisation.
The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has slammed five MKP members who voted against a bill that would fund hospitals and schools in the province.
The five members went against their own party’s orders during a vote at the KZN legislature last Wednesday.
The Division of Revenue Bill is meant to share national government money between provinces and municipalities for hospitals, schools and other services for 2025/26.
Most of the 65 KZN legislature members, including other MKP members, voted for the bill. But five MKP members voted against it.
The problem is that the MKP is fighting with itself. The five members who voted against the bill support Mervyn Dirks, who used to be their Chief Whip but was fired.
Their new Chief Whip, Bonginkosi Mngadi, told them to vote for the bill. But they ignored him and voted against it.
Before the vote, Mngadi had said: “For reasons of transparency and accountability to the public, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal, the MK Party supports the Revenue Bill for 2025.”
But then his own party members betrayed him by voting the opposite way.
The ANC said MKP’s messy behaviour proves that voting for them was a big mistake.
“While they play politics with people’s lives, the ANC continues to lead with discipline, experience and a deep understanding of what governance requires,” the ANC said.
During the meeting, Speaker Nontembeko Boyce had to remind Dirks that he is no longer the Chief Whip of MKP.
MKP has been fighting with itself since last year. The party accused some members of stealing R65-million in party funding.
Those accused included Dr Kwazi Mbanjwa, Thobani Zuma and Sifiso Zuma.
The party removed them and put Mervyn Dirks as Chief Whip. But early this year, they also removed Dirks and put Mngadi in his place.
The MKP is also fighting in other provinces. In Mpumalanga, Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebana is fighting with former Provincial Convener Mary Padi.
Padi even burnt the MKP Constitution document and refuses to give up her position.
Pictured above: Former MKP Chief Whip at KZN Legislature Mervyn Dirks betrays his own party with his group during the vote on the Revenue Bill.
Image source: @DirksMervyn
