The uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party has fired and replaced 15 Members of Parliament (MPs) a mere two weeks after they were sworn in on 25 July, according to Daily Maverick.
Other media outlets have reported the figure as between 15 and over 20.
National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza addressed letters to several of the ousted MPs. This was after she received correspondence from MK’s chief whip, Sihle Ngubane, stating that their party membership has been terminated, thereby disqualifying them from serving in Parliament.
An MK party insider has alleged that Ngubane, along with Zuma’s daughter Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, orchestrated the removal of the MPs.
“They will destroy the party because they want their friends and relatives to occupy parliamentary seats,” said the member, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the issue.
Jacob Zuma apparently was unaware of the purge.
This internal turmoil follows a pattern of instability within the MK party. At the beginning of July, then secretary-general Arthur Zwane was removed from office by Zuma, only to be recalled and fired again recently.
Zuma-Sambudla has denied any involvement in the purging of party members: “There have been certain identified individuals of the ANC that have tried and continue to infiltrate MK party to usurp power for themselves in a plan to take over the party through strategically deployed agents, and in so doing attempt to discredit me,” she said.
The party has been marred by factionalism, and Zuma’s leadership has been often questioned by critics and supporters.
The party’s parliamentary spokesperson, Sipho Tyira, told DM: We understand there is concern and speculation about what has transpired, and we will address this in our forthcoming statement.”