The MK Party in Gauteng was unable to pay constituency staff salaries last year after R2.6-million in party funds were diverted to finance a trip to Ghana undertaken by party president Jacob Zuma – triggering a financial crisis that has since spiralled into a widening
internal dispute.
According to party insiders with direct knowledge of the matter, the salary shortfall around September prompted an urgent review of party finances. It was during this process that officials uncovered that R2.6-million had been transferred from provincial structures to the party’s national office.
Sources say the funds were used to cover travel costs for Zuma and his delegation on a trip to Ghana, with the payment made to a travel agency.
The transaction has drawn internal criticism, particularly given the state-funded travel benefits available to former presidents under the Presidential Handbook.
Zuma travelled to Ghana at least twice last year, attending John Dramani Mahama’s inauguration in Accra in January and returning in August to deliver a lecture at the University of Professional Studies.
Against that backdrop, party insiders have questioned why organisational funds were used to finance international travel.
The details mirror claims in an anonymous internal report by the MK Party’s Gauteng provincial detachment, which names caucus leader Thabang Nkani and former MK Party treasurer general Mpiyakhe Fanyana Limba among those involved in the transaction.
“The party leader (MKP leader in Gauteng caucus) lent to comrade Mpiyakhe from the funds of the organisation without the knowledge of the provincial detachment,” reads the document, whose authenticity was confirmed by senior party members.
The report records that R2.6-million was disbursed in three tranches – “R1.6-million, R500 000, and R500 000” – without confirmation that party structures had approved or been informed. It further notes, “There is no confirmation that the caucus was also aware of this R2.6-million.”
An internal concern was raised during the process. “The chief of staff raised concerns regarding the rationale.”
Following the 2024 general election, the MK Party secured 9.79% of the total votes in Gauteng, becoming the fourth-largest party in the province, behind the ANC, DA and EFF.
Sunday World understands that the province had to dip into constituency funds to cover the salaries, as well as partially from the reimbursements from the national coffers.
Limba was appointed MKP treasurer-general in March last year, and during the tenure of former secretary-general Floyd Shivambu, he was designated as a signatory to party bank accounts – a role that placed him at the centre of financial administration.
The internal report notes that a provincial account was operated with him as a signatory, raising concerns about oversight and governance. Limba has since been removed from the treasurer-general position and replaced by Brian Molefe.
The internal report raises unresolved questions around “source of funds; authority to disburse; and organisational exposure”. It references the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act 12 of 2004, warning that failure to report suspected corruption involving significant sums could itself constitute a criminal offence.
The provincial detachment has called for a forensic audit that would include “the R2.6-million loan to comrade Mpiyakhe” and other financial activities.
The party’s Gauteng provincial secretary, Mzukisi Ronyuza, has also written to the national leadership, calling for intervention and describing a breakdown in discipline and authority within the caucus.
In his letter, Ronyuza accuses the caucus of operating outside party control, stating it has “arrogated power to itself, acting as if it were an autonomous structure”. He has urged national leaders to intervene and restore internal controls, warning that current practices risk weakening the party’s organisational integrity in Gauteng.
Asked for comment on the letter, Ronyuza referred questions to party headquarters, saying, “Remember, there was an instruction that we are not to comment on that letter… it’s an internal correspondence, and it’s now dealt with at a national level.”
He confirmed that the matter had been escalated and that the province was awaiting a response. “We are still waiting for the response regarding that… only the national office can respond.”
More insiders said the party runs a centralised funding model in which all MPs and MPLs pay a fixed portion of their salaries – known internally as “tithes” – into a single national account controlled by the treasurer’s office.
“That system is uniform across the board. Every deployee contributes, and the funds are consolidated into one central pool,” a senior insider said.
Funds are then allocated by national leadership based on political priorities, with provinces having no independent spending power.
Within this system, Zuma’s international travel is treated as centrally approved party expenditure, funded from the same consolidated pool. “The president’s travel is treated as a party function, financed through the same pooled resources,” another source said.
Questions sent to Nkani, Mpiyakhe and MK Party spokesperson Nhlamula Ndlela were not answered.
- The MK Party in Gauteng failed to pay constituency staff salaries last year.
- R2.6 million in party funds were diverted to finance a trip to Ghana by party president Jacob Zuma.
- The diversion of funds caused a financial crisis within the party.
- This financial crisis has escalated into a broader internal dispute.
- Further details require access to the Sunday World e-edition.
