Mary Phadi, expelled leader of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party in the Mpumalanga Legislature, has won a court challenge to her expulsion from the legislature and the party.
She had lost her membership of both in October after a decision by the party’s Secretary General, Floyd Shivambu, for allegedly ordering the assassination of another party member and for misusing party funds.
On Tuesday, the Mpumalanga High Court issued an interim order that she regain her positions.
Phadi attributed her expulsion to infighting, and to the intention to clear out senior positions for former EFF members, with Busisiwe Mkhwebane tipped to take over the provincial leadership. Both Shivambu and Mkhwebane are former EFF MPs.
Pledging her loyalty to Zuma – “we love Nxamalala” – she said: “We are saying, these people of EFF must not come and take over what we have worked for. This province was number two in the country (in terms of votes garnered by MK party). That tells you that we have worked very hard.”
[Photo: X/@PhadiMary]