Another Shake-Up: MK Party’s Leadership Turmoil Sparks “Governance” Warnings

In a move that has become familiar, the Umkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) has executed another abrupt leadership reshuffle, removing Colleen Makhubele as its parliamentary chief whip and appointing former Transnet CEO Brian Molefe as national treasurer. The change, the latest in a series of musical chairs at the top, has prompted political analysts to issue a stark warning: the party’s internal chaos suggests it is “not ready to govern at any level.”

The MKP, which holds the most electoral support in KwaZulu-Natal where it aims to take provincial power, has now changed its chief whip role at least three times since entering parliament. The current provincial chief whip, Bonginkosi Mngadi, also faces calls for removal, while convener Willies Mchunu has weathered internal attempts to oust him.

Analysts: A Party “Projecting Instability”

Professor Musa Xulu was unequivocal: “The MKP is not ready to govern… based on their inability to govern themselves.” He described the internal workings as “catastrophic for good governance.”

Echoing this, Professor Sipho Seepe noted the terrible timing in an election year. “The frequency of these changes does not project an image of an organisation that has stability… The optics do not look good.” He warned the party risks following the path of COPE, which collapsed due to leadership squabbles.

Analyst Thabani Khumalo argued the MKP is squandering its protest-vote advantage. “The people voted for the MKP… because they were angry,” he said, but the party has “chosen to continue in that chaotic vein” instead of consolidating into a reliable alternative.

MKP’s Defence: “We Are All Volunteers”

In response, MKP spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndlela defended the changes, framing them as necessary stabilisation. “In the MK Party, there are no permanent positions; we are all volunteers serving the people,” he stated, dismissing criticism as “political opportunism.” He emphasised the party is “led by the pulse of the nation” and ruled out holding a conference soon, stating “conferences are bought.”

The reshuffle underscores a fundamental tension within the MKP. To its supporters, it represents agile, non-bureaucratic action. To observers and critics, it reveals a lack of institutional cohesion and clear succession protocolscritical flaws for a party with provincial takeover ambitions. As the 2026 elections draw nearer, the MKP’s internal revolving door is becoming a central part of its public image, raising doubts about its capacity to transition from a potent protest movement into a stable, governing entity.