- Sibonelo Nomvalo claims fake pictures showed him taking money from President Cyril Ramaphosa, but he presented no evidence for the allegation.
- The MK Party removed Nomvalo on 22 October, citing councillor selection problems, factionalism, dual pay and delays in campaign material.
Former MK Party secretary-general Sibonelo Nomvalo says fake pictures and intelligence reports were used to push him out of the party.
Nomvalo made the claims at a media briefing in Durban on Friday but presented no evidence to support them.
He accused former eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede and MK Party national chairperson Mxolisi Phakathi of being involved in efforts to remove him.
“They made fake intelligence reports against me in such a way that the situation even almost broke down my marriage. My wife spent three months in hospital because of depression caused by the MKP,” Nomvalo said.
He claimed Gumede and Phakathi met in Ballito and prepared a letter calling for his removal.
“They sent me that letter via WhatsApp. They also used fake AI pictures of myself accepting money from President Cyril Ramaphosa to destroy the MKP,” he said.
Nomvalo did not show reporters the alleged pictures, intelligence report or WhatsApp message.
A video of the briefing shows him becoming emotional and crying while speaking.
Former president Jacob Zuma removed Nomvalo as MK Party secretary-general and as a member of Parliament on 22 October.
The party cited concerns over the councillor selection process, internal factionalism, dual remuneration and delays in campaign material.
Nomvalo has also denied allegations that he misused party money to buy cattle.
He said he bought the animals in 2023, before joining the MK Party, while he was still practising as an attorney.
Nomvalo was also asked about Zuma’s age and leadership.
He said he did not want to discuss Zuma’s age in detail.
“On the issue of President Zuma and his age, I’m not comfortable with divulging much about President Zuma. I believe that that’s a personal issue,” he said.
But Nomvalo said Zuma needed better protection from people around him.
“What I can say which I’ve always been saying to him, is that he needs protection. And currently he doesn’t have protection,” he said.
Nomvalo then turned his attack on Lindelani Mbambo, whom he described as the head of Zuma’s presidency.
He accused Mbambo of being involved in factional politics and claimed he had helped people who wanted Nomvalo removed gain access to Zuma.
Nomvalo said he once confronted Mbambo after hearing claims that he wanted the secretary-general position.
“I called him, and I asked him, do you want to be the Secretary General of the MK Party so that I can give it for you for free? He said to me, he doesn’t have an interest,” Nomvalo said.
He claimed Mbambo instead told him he wanted to become a municipal manager if the MK Party took power.
Nomvalo accused people around Zuma of trying to control appointments inside the party and warned MK Party members against what he described as factional politics.
He also accused unnamed figures of bringing the same political tactics used in the ANC into the MK Party.
“The same tactics that were used to destroy some people in the ANC, have now found expression here in the MK party,” he said.
Nomvalo said he would continue speaking about problems inside the party even if he was expelled completely.
Scrolla.Africa has not received responses from Gumede, Phakathi, Mbambo or the MK Party to Nomvalo’s allegations.
