Former uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party convenor in Mpumalanga Mary Phadi has called for the party’s deputy president, John Hlophe, to be suspended for allegedly making sexual advances towards her.
A letter that Phadi wrote to party leader Jacob Zuma about Hlophe’s behaviour was widely circulated on social media at the weekend.
MARY PHADI ACCUSES MK PARTY DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT
In an interview with Newzroom Afrika, Phadi confirmed that she wrote the letter and that she is willing to go to court to prove her claims of sexual harassment. Additionally, there are messages that can support her claim.
Phadi said Zuma did not respond to the letter in time and also called for Hlophe to be suspended with immediate effect.
“He must be suspended with immediate effect, the way he wanted me to be suspended with allegations that do not exist, he must be suspended. This will tell us that uMkhonto weSizwe Party is interested in making sure that everybody is fine,” Phadi said.
When asked about the possibility of the MK Party brushing off the allegations because she is a disgruntled member, Phadi said it would be unfortunate if the party did so.
“It would indeed be unfortunate because MK must be saying that here are the leaders that you want in MK, here are the women that will be able to build our country. This is a woman that will be able to stand up and say no to the things that are happening to women out there in any political party,” she said.
“If the MK Party is saying that I want to be here because I want a position they must think again. I am here because I was following a president when it was not fashionable to do so,” she added.
‘I AM STILL THE CONVENOR’
The businesswoman turned politician insists that she is still the MK Party leader in Mpumalanga.
As previously reported by The South African, in November, the MK Party fired Phadi for alleged mismanagement of funds and hatching an assassination plot against her rival in the party. However, in December, the Mpumalanga High Court in Mbombela ruled in Phadi’s favour.
The court ordered Phadi to be reinstated as the convenor in the province and as a member of the Mpumalanga legislature and party leader in the legislature. Instead, the MK Party appointed former Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) member of Parliament Busisiwe Mkhwebane.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT ALLEGATIONS LEVELLED AGAINST MK PARTY LEADER JOHN HLOPHE?
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