By Celani Sikhakhane
- MK members beat each other and threw chairs during a big fight about Floyd Shivhambu.
- Some leaders quit the party, saying they refuse to work under Shivhambu and Magasela Mzobe.
A meeting of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) in Pietermaritzburg ended in a huge fight, with members throwing chairs and punching each other.
The fight started because some members were accused of taking money to turn against party Secretary General Floyd Shivhambu.
Party member Nkwali yeNkosi Shamase sent a voice note saying money was used to turn female members against Shivhambu.
“We will defend Comrade Shivhambu until we understand what he has done wrong. What happened in Pietermaritzburg was because of those brown envelopes. Many people were injured. We must stop this — it’s destroying the party,” said Shamase.
Some MKP leaders have now quit the party and the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature. They say they don’t want to work under Shivhambu and Head of Presidency Magasela Mzobe.
The drama started when Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla insulted Shivhambu. She later apologised, but this week her brother Edward Zuma called Shivhambu a “rascal” on WhatsApp. He said Shivhambu was sent by ANC leaders like Gwede Mantashe and Dr Zweli Mkhize to ruin MKP.
The party has had big problems in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga since last year.
In Mpumalanga, there’s a fight between Marry Phadi, who was kicked out, and Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane, who was chosen to take over. But Phadi still has power. At a recent rally, Mkhwebane was blocked from entering, while Phadi ran the event.
Mkhwebane later said party leaders had failed to support her.
MKP is also facing problems with fake documents. Some leaders are said to be using fake signatures of Jacob Zuma to get what they want. Phadi said people are lying and using Zuma’s name for their own plans.
We could not reach MKP KwaZulu-Natal convener Willies Mchunu — his phone rang with no answer.
Pictured above: MKP members fought each other and threw chairs at the party meeting held in Pietermaritzburg on Tuesday.
Image source: Screenshot
