Brian Molefe steps down from Parliament as MK party reshuffles its top leadership

Brian Molefe’s return to frontline politics has taken another sharp turn.

The MK party confirmed on Wednesday that the former Eskom and Transnet chief executive has resigned as a Member of Parliament, clearing the way for him to focus full-time on his role as the party’s treasurer-general.

A move ordered from the top

According to MK party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela, Molefe’s resignation follows a direct instruction from party leader Jacob Zuma. The directive, he said, was aimed at tightening the party’s internal machinery, particularly around finances and organisational discipline.

Molefe was appointed treasurer-general just last month, replacing Mpiyakhe Limba. The party now says the decision to remove him from Parliament is about placing senior figures where they are “most effective”.

“This transition is in full alignment with the collective interests of the organisation,” Ndhlela said, praising Molefe’s time in Parliament and his commitment to the MK party’s political programme.

From public office to party war chest

Within the MK party, the treasurer-general role is seen as a strategic position, especially as the movement continues to build its structures after its rapid rise onto the national political stage.

Ndhlela said Molefe’s redeployment reflects a long-standing principle within liberation movements: cadres are assigned to roles where they can best advance the broader struggle in this case, strengthening the party’s financial sustainability and resource mobilisation.

The party also reiterated that all MPs and officials remain bound by Zuma’s leadership and organisational discipline, a message widely interpreted as an attempt to project unity amid intense political scrutiny.

A controversial figure, familiar debates

Molefe’s name remains closely linked to South Africa’s state capture era, and news of his resignation triggered swift reactions online. Supporters framed the move as a practical reshuffle within a young party, while critics questioned how someone facing corruption charges continues to occupy senior political positions.

Molefe is currently facing two corruption-related trials. One stems from his time at Transnet, where he is accused alongside other former executives, including Siyabonga Gama, Anoj Singh and Thamsanqa Jiyane. In a separate case, he is also charged alongside former minister Malusi Gigaba.

What it signals for the MK party

For the MK party, Molefe’s resignation from Parliament appears less about retreat and more about consolidation. By shifting him into a full-time organisational role, the party is signalling that internal capacity-building particularly financial control, is now a top priority.

Whether the move strengthens the party or fuels further controversy remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: Brian Molefe’s political story is far from over, even as his seat in Parliament now stands empty.

{Source: The Citizen}

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