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Des Van Rooyen Makes Political Comeback as MK Party’s New Chief Whip
A familiar name back in Parliament
In a move that has drawn fresh attention to the MK Party’s evolving parliamentary leadership, former finance minister Des Van Rooyen has been appointed as the party’s new Chief Whip with immediate effect. The announcement, made late on Tuesday night, marks yet another leadership reshuffle for the young but fast-growing political movement founded by Jacob Zuma.
Van Rooyen takes over from Colleen Makhubele, who had only held the position since May 2025. Her appointment followed the removal of Mzwanele Manyi, who had himself replaced Sihle Ngubane less than a year earlier. This makes Van Rooyen the fourth person to occupy the Chief Whip role since the party entered Parliament after last year’s general election, a sign of how dynamic, and perhaps unsettled, MK’s internal politics remain.
From “Weekend Minister” to Party Strategist
For many South Africans, Des Van Rooyen’s name will ring a bell. He briefly served as finance minister in 2015 under then-president Jacob Zuma, in what became one of the shortest and most controversial cabinet appointments in democratic history. But within the MK Party, Van Rooyen is being presented in a very different light.
MK spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela described him as a “seasoned cadre of the liberation movement” with decades of service and extensive experience across local, provincial, and national government. The party insists Van Rooyen’s academic and governance background make him well-suited to bring order, structure, and strategic discipline to its parliamentary caucus.
According to the statement, his appointment is aimed at strengthening the party’s presence in the National Assembly and ensuring it remains aligned with MK’s mission to “complete the total liberation of the South African people.”
Internal Reshuffles Continue
The appointment comes amid a wave of restructuring within MK’s leadership ranks. Just last month, Jacob Zuma announced that Tony Yengeni would serve as the party’s second deputy president, joining John Hlophe, the former Western Cape Judge President, in senior leadership. Zuma explained that Hlophe’s heavy workload had prompted the creation of an additional deputy post, citing the party’s rapid growth and expanding responsibilities.
Yengeni, once nicknamed the “Gucci socialist” for his lavish lifestyle, used his first public address in the new role to pay tribute to Zuma and to highlight their shared history of political persecution. Both men have faced corruption allegations linked to the controversial arms deal.
A Party Still Defining Itself
Van Rooyen’s appointment may be seen as an attempt to stabilise the MK Party’s parliamentary operations after a year of frequent leadership changes. It also signals Zuma’s confidence in veterans of the liberation era to guide the party through its next phase in the National Assembly.
With Van Rooyen now steering the caucus, supporters are watching to see whether he can bring consistency and focus to a political movement that has grown rapidly but is still carving out its identity on the national stage.
For now, the MK Party says it has “full confidence” in his leadership and that its work in Parliament will continue to reflect “the will of the people without compromise.”
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Source: The Citizen
Featured Image: SABC News
