The MK Party’s founding secretary-general and national organiser have challenged
former president Jacob Zuma’s authority in the party and called for an elective conference as soon as December to elect national leaders.
Former secretary-general Thanduxolo Dyobo and former national organiser Macdonald Mathabe wrote to Zuma, current secretary-general Dr Sifiso Maseko and the party’s national interim committee on August 23, expressing concern about the organisation, highlighting that Zuma did not form the party as claimed.
“We raise these concerns in the most constructive spirit and in order for the party to reflect honestly on some of its decisions since the very first launch.
“In our view, the concerns we raise in this memorandum will lead to the demise of this party if they are not addressed,” Dyobo said.
He argued that traditional leaders, church leaders and broader society, through the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco), initiated the MK Party, not Zuma.
He stressed that these stakeholders were the true founders of the party.
“We raise these concerns to ensure the party reflects honestly on its decisions since its launch. If not addressed, these issues could lead to the party’s downfall,” he said.
Dyobo explained that after discussions, the stakeholders approached Zuma to join their initiative. Zuma agreed, and took on administrative responsibilities to register the party with the IEC and he delegated Jabulani Khumalo to register the party with the IEC.
“After much deliberation between the stakeholders and president Zuma, eventually he agreed to join the traditional leaders, church leaders and the broader society through Sanco to register an alternative political party,” he said.
Mathabe added that Zuma asked him to arrange a meeting with former ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule to discuss the new party’s formation.
Mathabe said he facilitated a brief discussion at the Johannesburg High Court and later met with Zuma and Magashule in Nkandla. Zuma allegedly revealed that he was already
registering a political party and invited them to join. Magashule agreed in principle but later declined to join MK Party.
Following the party’s formation, Dyobo and Mathabe were removed from their positions without explanation.
Dyobo and Mathabe blamed Zuma’s daughter, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, for creating chaos within the party.
They accused Zuma and Khumalo of failing to lead effectively, allowing external forces to harm the party.
“Duduzile Zuma has disrupted the MK Party. Her actions should be investigated, and she should be held accountable. The party must not seem like a family entity.”
They demanded the reinstatement of expelled members and called for a national conference as well as a special general council to address the challenges.
MK Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela dismissed Dyobo and Mathabe’s allegations.
“Gobarchev and Macdonald are inaugural members not founding members of MK Party. The rest of the content of what they are saying is not worth the paper it’s written on. President Zuma is the founder of MK Party, finish and klaar,” he said.
Magashule denied he was lobbied to join MK Party.
“There is no such a thing that I was lobbied to join MK. Those guys are talking nonsense. I launched my party in August and MK was launched in December.
“I don’t need any person to help me to meet president Zuma. I can do that on my own. I can speak to president Zuma and Duduzile whenever I want. They shouldn’t involve me in their affairs,” he said.
