Colleen Makhubele’s departure from the MK Party was inevitable, despite her attempts to downplay her resignation from Parliament and the party.
Insiders told Sunday World that she was on her way out after reneging on her parliamentary duties and disengaging from party activities following her removal as chief whip in January.
She had reportedly gone AWOL, skipping important meetings and perpetually calling in sick.
According to those close to her, Makhubele struggled to accept her demotion. “Ever since she was removed as chief whip, she never set foot in parliament,” said an insider.
“She had taken her removal very personal. What is even worse is that she does not get along with the new chief whip.”
This assertion was confirmed by a member of the MKP national high command, who added that Makhubele’s departure from the party was not a shocker.
Her former colleagues in the caucus also shared that Makhubele faced criticism for her assertive leadership style. She had apparently benefited from the feud between former chief whip Mzwanele Manyi and suspended MKP parliamentary leader Dr John Hlophe.
She eventually fell out with Hlophe, who unilaterally removed her as chief whip and replaced her with Des van Rooyen in a dramatic evening while party leader Jacob Zuma was out of the country. Upon his return, Zuma reinstated her and suspended Hlophe for making the decision without consulting the party’s hierarchy.
Hlophe is still suspended pending the outcome of an independent probe into his conduct. Van Rooyen is currently acting in his place.
Some within the MKP caucus argued that Makhubele should have been removed because she “let the power go to her head” after taking on the role of chief whip. “It was like she had a mission; she listened to no one. It was her way or the highway,” said a senior MKP member of parliament.
Sunday World has also learned that Makhubele’s position within the party was shaky. She was reportedly marked to get the chop sometime this year after her fallout with the dominant factions within MKP that have Zuma’s ear. It is alleged that a report identifying her as a Mossad plant, which is an old allegation discussed in political corridors, convinced Zuma to demote her.
In her resignation letter, however, Makhubele downplayed this posturing, instead praising the MKP leader for granting her the opportunity to serve the party.
MKP national spokesperson and chief communicator Nhlamulo Ndhela was rather frugal with responses to questions about specifics of Makhubele’s departure. He, however, dismissed claims that the departure reflected instability within the MKP caucus.
“People like to say there is instability because they want to create instability in MK; that is the problem we have,” said Ndhlela.
“We are working well. We have caucus meetings, we have whippery meetings, and we focus on what we need to do, and we have the best team in the ad hoc committee investigating Gen [Nhlanhla] Mkhwanazi’s allegations.”
He also refused to say when Hlophe was coming back from suspension and whether the probe against him was complete.
According to insiders, Zuma suspended Hlophe because he felt blindsided by his decision to unilaterally remove Makhubele as chief whip.
“When president Zuma went to Burkina Faso to meet with [Ibrahim] Traore, the people around him, AboMzobe (Magasela), and they wanted to make a big splash around the visit. The old man was hyped up and all, but upon his landing there were screaming headlines back home that Colleen had been removed as chief whip.
“But because the message had not been transmitted directly to president Zuma, he felt undermined. Not only that, but president Zuma found out that Hlophe took the decision unilaterally; it made things worse, and action had to be taken, and we are all waiting for a verdict,” said a person with intimate knowledge of the charges against Hlophe.
Makhubele did not respond to requests for comment.
