MKP leadership changes: Brian Molefe new TG, Colleen Makhubele booted out as chief whip

Brian Molefe is the new treasurer-general of the MKP.

Papi Morake / Gallo Images

Twelve days into the New Year,the MKP has already announced leadership changes to its structures.Brian Molefe is now the new treasurer-general of the party,while Colleen Makhubela has been fired as its chief whip.The Jacob Zuma-led party has become synonymous with leadership instability.

Disgraced former Eskom CEO and corruption-accused Brian Molefe is the new treasurer-general of the MK Party,the party announced in a statement on Monday afternoon.

The Jacob Zuma-led party,known for chopping and changing its leaders,has also announced that it has fired its chief whip in Parliament,Colleen Makhubela.

Molefe will replace Mpiyakhe Limba,whom the party said it had decided to relieve of his duties with “immediate effect” following a decision by Zuma and the MKP national officials.

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Limba was appointed to the job in March.

On Molefe’s appointment,the MKP,through its spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela,said: “Comrade Molefe brings with him extensive experience in public administration,governance,finance,and organisational leadership.

“His proven track record,strategic capability,and deep understanding of complex financial systems render him suitably qualified to assume this critical responsibility at this phase of the party’s growth.”

Molefe,who is also the former CEO of Transnet,is currently out on R50 000 bail on charges of fraud,corruption,and contravention of the Public Finance Management Act and the Companies Act,related to his tenure at Transnet.

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Meanwhile,Makhubela,who replaced Mzwanele Manyi as chief whip in May,was first booted out of the position in November by former MKP parliamentary leader John Hlophe. He replaced her with Des van Rooyen. But a day later,Zuma reinstated Makhubela and suspended Hlophe for taking an unauthorised decision in firing Makhubela.

However,it now appears that with Zuma’s blessings,the axe has finally fallen on Makhubela “with immediate effect”.

Ndhlela stated that Makhubela would remain a member of Parliament and announced that Mmabatho Mokoena-Zondi,currently serving as the chief whip of the National Council of Provinces,will act in the position.

“The uMkhonto weSizwe Party remains committed to organisational discipline,collective leadership and the strengthening of its structures in pursuit of the aspirations of the people of South Africa,” said Ndhlela.