Simon Nare
The uMkhonto weSizwe Party has suspended its under-fire parliamentary chief whip, Mmabatho Mokoena-Zondi, after she was arrested and charged with fraud over allegations that she defrauded party-linked researchers of more than R200,000 in 2024.
The party said in a statement issued on Tuesday evening that Mokoena-Zondi’s membership had been suspended with immediate effect pending an internal investigation into allegations of corruption.
The decision followed a meeting earlier in the day between MK Party president Jacob Zuma and the party’s national officials.
“Ms Mokoena-Zondi has been instructed to hand over all party documents, records, assets and any other party-related materials in her possession with immediate effect. Cde Philasande Mkhize has been appointed chief whip effective immediately,” the party said.
Mokoena-Zondi appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court last week after handing herself over to authorities. She was charged with fraud and released on R30,000 bail.
The matter was transferred to the Bellville Specialised Commercial Crimes Court, where she is expected to appear again on 18 June.
Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Zinzi Hani said at the time that she was released on stringent bail conditions.
Hani said the charges related to allegations that Mokoena-Zondi recruited four people to work as researchers for the party between August and December 2024, and subsequently demanded payments from their salaries, claiming the money was needed to cover legal costs for former president Jacob Zuma.
Hani said the alleged fraud amounted to about R233,317.99.
In the same statement announcing Mokoena-Zondi’s suspension, the MK Party also said, without giving further context, that Zuma’s daughter, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, held no official position in the party.
“The MKP also further wishes to place on record that Ms Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla holds no official position or responsibility within the party and her role was limited to that of an ordinary party member and she does not exercise any authority on behalf of the party,” it said.
Zuma-Sambudla is currently on trial in the Durban High Court on charges of incitement to commit terrorism and incitement to commit public violence related to social media posts during the July 2021 civil unrest. She has pleaded not guilty.
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