MK party's decision to suspend John Hlophe also nullifies this week's decision to appoint Des van Rooyen as chief whip in parliament.
The uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) Party has undergone another shake-up of its senior ranks.
The party announced late on Wednesday evening that it had placed Deputy President and parliamentary leader Dr John Hlophe on suspension.
In suspending Hlophe, the decision has also nullified the appointment of Des van Rooyen as the party’s parliamentary chief whip.
Van Rooyen was given the chief whip position after Hlophe removed Colleen Makhubele earlier this week.
Zuma returns from Burkina Faso
MK party president Jacob Zuma had been in West Africa this week, where he enjoyed the hospitality of Burkina Faso’s transitional president Ibrahim Traore.
Zuma was briefed by his party’s national officials on the actions taken by Hlophe in his absence, leading to the nullification and suspension.
“This decision is meant to affirm and send a strong message [about] the principle of collective leadership across all structures within the MK Party,” head of MK party presidency Magasela Mzobe stated.
Mzobe stressed that the party remained “firmly united” as it strove to promote the principles embodied by the party’s constitution.
“This decision should be seen as a demonstration of the party’s unwavering commitment to internal party discipline and collective leadership,” Mzobe stated.
MK Party deputies
Zuma recently announced Tony Yengeni as the party’s second deputy president to assist Hlophe with his duties.
“As you know, we have a deputy president who has [been] put in a very serious area to lead our people who are in parliament,” Zuma said of Hlophe in late October.
He suggested that Hlophe was stretched too thin in juggling parliamentary and party roles, before praising the incoming Yengeni.
“He is the man that I am going to be working with in the leadership of this party, we come from very far with him, I trust him as I trust many cadres I have worked with,” Zuma said of Yengeni.
The party concluded the announcement of Hlophe’s suspension by stressing it was “focused and steadfast” in its transformation mission.
“The MK Party wishes to assure all its members, supporters and the broader South African public that the organisation remains stable,” Mzobe stated.
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