The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) has sacked Mzwanele Manyi as the party chief whip in the National Assembly.
The dismissal of Manyi, who has also served as the spokesperson for Jacob Zuma, the president and founder of the MKP, was announced by the party’s deputy president, John Hlophe, on Tuesday morning.
The announcement comes after Manyi and Hlophe had a fallout in parliament in February.
Former City of Johannesburg speaker Colleen Makhubele will take Manyi’s place.
In a letter obtained by Sunday World, John Hlope, the party’s deputy president, states that the move seeks to further the party’s overall aims and objectives.
“I am writing to formally inform you that, with immediate effect, you are hereby relieved of your duties as chief whip of the MK Party in the National Assembly,” reads Hlophe’s letter.
“We are pleased to announce that Honourable Colleen Makhubela will assume the position of chief whip effective immediately.”
Internal party strife
Hlope expressed gratitude to Manyi for his commitment to leadership over the previous nine months.
“On behalf of the party leadership and members, I want to extend our heartfelt gratitude for your dedication, hard work, and service in this demanding role.
“Your contributions have been invaluable, and we deeply appreciate your commitment to the party and its vision,” reads the letter.
Following his decision to leave the EFF and join the party of former president Zuma, Manyi was named chief whip of the official opposition in August 2024.
He took Sihle Ngubane’s place as MP for the MK Party at the time. His dismissal coincides with demands for a leadership shuffle and internal party strife.
In February, Manyi and the leader of the MK Party’s caucus, Hlophe, were at each other’s throats.
Manyi, Hlophe stung each other like bees
The two allegedly floated like butterflies and stung each other like bees in an exchange of blows resulting from a fallout following Hlophe’s response to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address.
It is believed that the speech was handed to Hlophe by Manyi, who said such was sanctioned by the organisation’s head honchos, Zuma and Shivambu.
But apparently Zuma was unhappy about the quality of the speech, which was deemed to be all over the place and totally irrelevant to the occasion of Sona.
As a result of the fallout from the Sona debate speech, it was reported by News24 at the time that Manyi and Hlophe almost became Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield during a caucus meeting.
Hlophe reportedly grabbed Manyi by the neck and accused him of betraying him by giving him the lame speech.
The party came out to rubbish the claims, downplaying the altercation as “internal party discussions”, while the implicated parties, namely Hlophe and Manyi, elected to remain mum.
In a statement, Ndhlela said there was no reason for panic.
“MK Party wants to state that, against the wishes of those who fear the power of the MK Party and attempt to drive a wedge amongst our leadership, we remain united and steadfast in our mission to serve the people of South Africa.”
