By Simon Nare
Former president and uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party leader Jacob Zuma has appointed his son, Duduzane Zuma, as the party’s first deputy president in a sweeping leadership reshuffle that also restores the powers of senior officials who were recently sidelined.
Announcing the changes at a media briefing in Durban on Tuesday, Zuma said the restructuring formed part of an organisational reconfiguration aimed at strengthening the party.
Among those removed from their positions with immediate effect are Dr John Hlophe as first deputy president, Nathi Nhleko as national chairperson and Nomsa Dlamini as deputy secretary-general.
Hlophe is expected to become the party’s leader in Parliament, while former police minister Nhleko will be replaced by former KwaZulu-Natal MPL Mxolisi Ewart Phakathi.
Dlamini will be succeeded by former MK Party Women’s League national secretary Lindiwe Mtshali.
Zuma also appointed former ANC member Willis Mchunu to serve in the party Presidency while retaining his position as the MK Party’s KwaZulu-Natal provincial leader.
According to a statement read at the briefing, Mchunu “will play a pivotal role in providing strategic advice, organisational guidance and support on matters requiring presidential oversight and coordination”.
In another reversal, Zuma dissolved the Strategic Presidential Team just weeks after establishing it.
“Any commitments, contracts, obligations or financial liabilities entered into by members of the dissolved Strategic Presidential Team shall not be the responsibility of the MK Party. The party will not assume responsibility for any debts or financial obligations incurred without the party’s authorised approval,” the statement said.
It added: “The Presidential Task Team is hereby reinstated with immediate effect and shall resume its responsibilities in accordance with its mandate under the direction of the president.”
The statement further confirmed that Zandile Hlophe and Sibonelo Maphumulo, as members of the Presidential Task Team, are the party’s authorised representatives and signatories with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and will handle all statutory and electoral matters.
Zuma also reversed an earlier decision to strip Secretary-General Sibonelo Nomvalo and Treasurer-General Brian Molefe of their powers.
“The President directs that the Secretary-General and the Treasurer-General shall return to work and resume their full responsibilities with immediate effect,” the statement said.
“Accordingly, the memorandum previously imposed on matters relating to the party’s finances, the secretariat and communications is hereby lifted with immediate effect. All constitutional and administrative functions of these offices shall resume without delay.”
Zuma said he would continue to exercise political oversight over the organisation, including its finances, secretariat and other key organisational functions.
He said the arrangement would enable him to provide strategic direction, ensure accountability and oversee the effective functioning of all party structures.
Addressing reports of a forensic investigation into the alleged unauthorised diversion of about R33 million in party funds, Zuma denied having seen or received such a report.
“The president wishes to place it on record that the party has not been furnished with, nor has it had sight of, any such forensic report. The president has therefore directed that this matter be formally brought before him and that the relevant report, together with all supporting documentation, be submitted for his consideration,” the statement said.
Media reports have alleged that funds raised for the party were transferred into unauthorised bank accounts, with investigators uncovering fake invoices, forged signatures and a ghost-worker scheme in KwaZulu-Natal involving 64 duplicate employees that allegedly cost the party R17.4 million.
The allegations have not been independently verified.
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