By Everson Luhanga
- MK Party president Jacob Zuma suspended Hlophe after he reshuffled Parliament leadership without consulting party officials.
- Hlophe’s decision to remove chief whip Colleen Makhubele and appoint Des van Rooyen has been scrapped by the party.
The uMkhonto weSizwe Party has suspended its deputy president and parliamentary leader, John Hlophe, after accusing him of making changes in Parliament without following the rules.
According to a statement issued by the party, Hlophe was suspended with immediate effect after returning president Jacob Zuma was told that Hlophe had acted on his own when he removed chief whip Colleen Makhubele and replaced her with Des van Rooyen.
Party officials say no one was consulted about the decision.
“Dr Hlophe has been suspended from all his leadership duties pending a full investigation into his conduct,” said Magasela Mzobe, head of the party’s presidency.
“The party will not allow any leader to act outside the principle of collective leadership. The appointment of comrade Des van Rooyen is null and void.”
Mzobe said the party was taking a firm stand on discipline, accountability and teamwork: “We remain a united organisation focused on justice and transformation.”
This is not Hlophe’s first controversy. Earlier this year he was impeached by Parliament for misconduct during his time as Western Cape Judge President.
He has also clashed with the party before – including over the removal of national spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela and other decisions he made without full support.
The MK Party confirmed that Makhubele has returned to her role as chief whip and that van Rooyen will go back to being an ordinary member of Parliament.
The suspension highlights growing tensions within the party, which performed well in the 2024 election and now holds several seats in Parliament.
It is still unclear how Hlophe will respond or whether he will fight to keep his positions.
Pictured above: John Hlophe.
Image source: File
