Thapelo Molefe
THE Umkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) has appointed Mzwanele Manyi as the party’s chief whip in parliament, replacing Sihle Ngubane.
Manyi, a former Department of Labour Director-General who is also the spokesperson for the Zuma Foundation, joined the MK party after defecting from the EFF and was on Wednesday sworn in as an MP.
He, together with former EFF deputy-president Floyd Shivambu left the red berets and joined the MK Party at the same time.
MKP spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela said Manyi replaced Sihle Ngubane, who has served the party diligently in this role.
“Honourable Manyi brings a wealth of executive experience to this administrative yet political role, as he served in government as a director-general and led as a corporate executive in the private sector,” Ndhlela said.
Ndhlela said Manyi’s considerable experience will provide momentum to the party’s continued efforts while building on Ngubane’s excellent base.
“We are confident that Honourable Manyi’s leadership will further strengthen our party’s commitment to serving people with integrity and dedication,” Ndhlela said.
Ndhlela said Ngubane will continue to serve as an ordinary member of the National Assembly as assigned to the committees which he continues to participate in.
After being sworn in Manyi took to social network X and said the MKP leader and former president Jacob Zuma commanded them to do “political something something’ in Parliament.
Manyi was sworn in as MKP Member of Parliament on Wednesday, together with the former CEOs of state-owned enterprise Brian Molefe, Siyabonga Gama and Lucky Montana.
Molefe said that the group of professionals will be able to add value to parliament because of their experience.
“So when officials come to account about what they are doing in those entities, when Eskom comes and talks about a price increase, when Eskom comes and gives us a report about low-chain, we will be able, with the knowledge from the other side, to ask the relevant questions,” he said.
MKP deputy-president Dr. John Hlophe said: “Today we witness a historic moment in the swearing in of experienced and capable black professionals such as myself who were politically marginalised and sidelined by the ANC of Syria (sic) Ramaphosa.”
Hlophe said the new members are an asset to parliament because they come with a wealth of experience and expertise.
However, the DA chief whip, George Michalakis, said the swearing-in of individuals implicated in state capture as Members of Parliament today is a travesty and an insult to the people of South Africa, who have suffered the devastating consequences of corruption and mismanagement under the very individuals now poised to represent them in Parliament.
He added that these individuals are not suitable to hold positions in a Parliament that should uphold the principles of democracy and accountability with integrity at its core.
“Their presence in this body serves as a clear indication of how deep-rooted corruption has seeped into our political framework,” he said.
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