Former MK party SG Nomvalo denies working with Ramaphosa, plotting to remove Zuma

Former uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party secretary-general (SG) Sibonelo Nomvalo has broken his silence over his sacking.

Nomvalo was removed from his position last week.

“Comrade Nomvalo has been relieved of his duties as secretary-general following concerns relating to the councillor selection process, internal factionalism, matters concerning dual remuneration, delays in campaign materials, changes within the parliamentary caucus and parliamentary administration that were reportedly not communicated to the president,” said the MK party’s spokesperson, Sifiso Mahlangu.

Four attempts to remove him

But on Friday, Nomvalo held a media briefing in Durban, where he gave his own side of the story.

According to Nomvalo, he was not surprised by the decision to remove him as SG. He said there had been many attempts before; others came through “intelligence reports” that were submitted to the founder of the party, Jacob Zuma.

Nomvalo said one of the reports accused him of being a spy for the ANC.

“Out of my own volition, I collected all the necessary evidence, including bank statements and logbooks, to dismiss these allegations.

“I requested a meeting with President Zuma, Deputy President Yengeni and comrade Willies Mchunu in which I tendered the evidence and we discussed the matter at length,” he said.

He said the second intelligence report accused him of plotting with the party’s former SG, Floyd Shivambu, to remove Zuma as the president of the party. The pair allegedly planned to use the party’s policy conference to do this.

“As a consequence of this, the policy conference was cancelled. I want to place it on record that I only interacted once with Floyd Shivambu; it was during his term of office as the SG of the MK party,” he said.

He said the third intelligence report alleged that he had stolen money from the MK party to buy cows.

“Attached to this report was my Facebook picture posted in 2024 where I am standing in my kraal. The interpretation to the president is that it’s a new picture and all, and all cows appearing on the picture were bought with money I stole from the MK party,” he said.

Nomvalo said he had bought the livestock in 2023, when he was a practising attorney.

He said there was a fourth intelligence report that accused him and Brian Molefe of paying more than R20 million to the Birchwood Hotel to host the party’s policy conference.

“We brought all documents, including bank statements and the contract with Birchwood Hotel, to dismiss these allegations.”

He said another intelligence report said he is an agent of the president of the ANC, Cyril Ramaphosa. He denied this, saying the only time he has interacted with Ramaphosa is in parliament.

“I do not even recall having a direct social conversation with him,” he said.

Not surprised by his removal

Nomvalo said that after the alleged attempts, he was expecting to be removed as the SG of the party at any time.

“My mind was long prepared for this; it was prepared for this,” he said.

Nomvalo broke down and cried during this media briefing. He said he is not angry with Zuma because there are people taking advantage of his age in the party.