By Simon Nare
uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party Secretary-General Sibonelo Nomvalo and treasurer Brian Molefe have been stripped of their executive powers after the party established a new Strategic Presidential Team to oversee its day-to-day operations and financial affairs.
The leadership shake-up follows a meeting between party leader and former president Jacob Zuma and MK Party national officials, where it was resolved to dissolve the Presidential Task Team and transfer its authority to the newly created Strategic Presidential Team.
In a statement issued late on Monday, the party said the new structure had been established in line with its constitution and would assume responsibility for the party’s administration, governance and finances.
“All powers, responsibilities, mandates and functions previously exercised by the Presidential Task Team are hereby transferred and consolidated under the Strategic Presidential Team. The Strategic Presidential Team shall, with immediate effect, assume secretariat and financial powers and responsibilities necessary for the effective administration, coordination, governance and strategic management of the organisation,” the party said.
The announcement follows weekend reports that Zuma had removed Molefe’s financial authority and declared himself the party’s sole accounting officer responsible for overseeing all banking transactions.
Reports suggested the move was prompted by concerns over the alleged mismanagement of party funds, as well as growing factional tensions within the organisation.
Zuma has also moved the Secretary-General’s office under the Office of the President, effectively stripping Nomvalo of his authority just five months after his appointment.
Nomvalo becomes the latest senior party official to lose influence amid continuing internal upheaval.
The functions of the Secretary-General’s office will now be performed by the Strategic Presidential Team, leaving Nomvalo with no operational responsibilities.
The party said the new body would serve as its highest decision-making and leadership structure, vested with “overarching authority to provide leadership, strategic direction, organisational coordination, oversight and implementation of the party’s political programme and constitutional mandate”.
According to the party, the restructuring is intended to strengthen its leadership architecture, consolidate strategic authority, eliminate fragmented decision-making and ensure the disciplined implementation of party resolutions.
The Strategic Presidential Team has been tasked with:
- Exercising supreme strategic leadership and decision-making authority on behalf of the party.
- Providing long-term strategic planning and organisational direction.
- Overseeing the implementation of party policies, programmes and resolutions.
- Supervising the party’s secretariat, administration and financial governance.
- Strengthening coordination and operational effectiveness across all party structures.
- Leading electoral strategy, campaigning and voter mobilisation.
The party said Zuma believed the new structure would improve the organisation’s effectiveness.
“President Jacob Zuma is confident that the Strategic Presidential Team, working together with the national officials, will strengthen the party’s leadership capacity, enhance strategic execution and ensure the effective fulfilment of the party’s constitutional mandate and political mission,” the statement said.
In one of its first actions, the Strategic Presidential Team reprimanded MK Party MP Mzwanele Manyi for allegedly conducting unauthorised media interviews while representing the party.
The team said only national spokesperson Sifiso Mahlangu and Dr John Hlophe were authorised to communicate with the media on behalf of the party, with Hlophe responsible for matters relating to Parliament.
“It has come to our attention that you have been conducting unauthorised interviews in the name of the MK Party without the knowledge of either the national spokesperson or head of communication,” the task team said in a letter to Manyi.
The letter said the leadership had received written complaints regarding Manyi’s media appearances and reminded him that no member was permitted to grant interviews or provide media comment without prior authorisation.
“We therefore request that you desist from engaging with the media without the requisite authorisation and ensure that all future media engagements comply with the organisation’s established communication protocol,” the letter warned.
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