MKP CRACKS OUT IN PUBLIC

Tempers flare as Zuma tightens grip, Nomvalo and Molefe walk out of key meeting

Breaking News: President Jacob Zuma's party is under serious political test ahead of the much anticipated local elections this year.

By Mpho Dube, Editor-in-Chief

The Azanian | Truth. Fearless. Unfiltered.  

AZANIAFROCOMEDIA – The Catalyst of Impact

EKURHULENI-The cracks inside uMkhonto weSizwe Party are now out in the open.

A strategic planning meeting at the Protea Hotel OR Tambo in Ekurhuleni descended into chaos this past week after party president Jacob Zuma confronted senior officials over what he described as “immaturity” and attempts to undermine his authority.

The meeting was meant to prepare the party for November’s local government elections. Instead, it exposed a deep power struggle.

The Azanian understands tensions erupted when Secretary-General Sibonelo Nomvalo was asked to explain a letter he sent to Gauteng regional coordinators on July 25. 

That was one day after Zuma announced that the secretariat office would now fall under the office of the president.

In the letter, Nomvalo said he was “correcting” a previous invitation and that only convenors and coordinators would be invited to the launch of campaign material due to space constraints.

Sources present say when Nomvalo was asked who instructed him to send the letter after his powers were reportedly stripped, he stood up and accused comrades of sabotage.

The situation worsened when Nomvalo and Treasurer-General Brian Molefe were told to hand over signing powers to General Manager Zandile Makhathini-Neer. They were also questioned over allegations that they had mobilized structures against the newly established Strategic Presidential Team [SPT].

According to insiders, both men shouted at Deputy Secretary-General Nomsa Dlamini when she asked them to cooperate. Tony Yengeni had to intervene to calm things down.

“They were so furious they walked out before the meeting ended,” said a source. “It left uBaba stunned. He said he needed advice on how to deal with people who behave like children and pick fights with women. He even said had he known this is how they behave, he would never have appointed them.”

The walkout meant a planned discussion on an internal forensic report was never tabled. Staff taking minutes were allegedly asked to leave before the confrontation.

Zuma is said to have met privately with Nomvalo afterwards.Nomvalo has dismissed the allegations. MKP spokesperson Sifiso Mahlangu said he would gather information before commenting.  

Yengeni, Molefe and Dlamini had not responded by the time of publication.

This is the clearest sign yet that Zuma is consolidating power ahead of elections.  

By moving the secretariat under the presidency and shifting financial authority, the two most powerful administrative positions have effectively been sidelined.

For MKP, the question now is whether it can paper over these public cracks before voters head to the polls in November.