Des Van Rooyen

South Africa’s political landscape has seen fresh drama within the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), as former president Jacob Zuma steps in to steady the ship. In a move aimed at ensuring smooth operations in Parliament, Zuma has named Des van Rooyen as the acting leader of the party’s caucus. This comes hot on the heels of the suspension of deputy president Dr John Hlophe, who faces an inquiry over claims of making key changes without proper consultation. The decision highlights ongoing tensions in the young party, which burst onto the scene in the 2024 elections and now holds a strong position as the official opposition. With a legal team set to probe the matter, many are watching to see if this signals deeper rifts or a path to stability.

Background to the Suspension of Dr John Hlophe

The trouble started on 5 November 2025, when the MKP announced Hlophe’s suspension from all party activities. At the heart of the issue was his alleged decision to swap out Collen Makhubele as the parliamentary chief whip, putting Des van Rooyen in her place instead. This move reportedly happened without talking it over with the party’s top brass, known as the National High Command, where Hlophe himself sits as a member.

The timing added fuel to the fire—Zuma was away on a trip to Burkina Faso, meeting with President Ibrahim Traoré. When Zuma got back and heard about the change, he acted fast: he put Hlophe on ice and brought Makhubele back as chief whip. Now, a legal team is in charge of digging into what happened, and they will hand over a full report to Zuma and other senior leaders once done.

Hlophe, though suspended from party roles, stays on as a Member of Parliament and a loyal MKP member. His past is tied closely to Zuma’s—he was removed as a judge in February 2024 after being found guilty of gross misconduct for trying to sway Constitutional Court judges in Zuma’s corruption case back in 2008. That impeachment cost him his judge’s perks, like a lifelong salary, making his MP spot crucial for his livelihood. Analysts point out that Zuma feels a debt to Hlophe for standing by him during tough times, which might explain why the party is handling this with care rather than a quick boot out the door.

Des van Rooyen’s Appointment and His Political History

On 15 November 2025, MKP spokesperson Sipho Tyira shared the news that Zuma had given the green light for Des van Rooyen to step up as acting parliamentary leader right away. The goal? To keep things running smoothly in Parliament without any gaps. Tyira made it clear that Makhubele would stick around as chief whip, putting an end to the earlier switch-up.

Van Rooyen is no stranger to the spotlight. He grabbed headlines in December 2015 when Zuma made him finance minister out of the blue, only for the job to last a mere weekend—earning him the nickname “Weekend Special.” That short stint was mired in controversy, with claims of ties to the Gupta family, who were accused of pulling strings in government during Zuma’s time in charge. Van Rooyen denied any wrongdoing, but the event shook markets and led to his quick replacement by Pravin Gordhan.

Before that, Van Rooyen had a solid run in local politics, serving as mayor of Merafong in Gauteng and holding spots in Parliament’s finance and local government committees. He also led the ANC’s regional structure in North West. Now, as MKP’s acting caucus leader, he takes on a big role in the party that won 58 seats in the National Assembly during the May 2024 elections, making it the third-largest group and the official opposition after the Democratic Alliance joined the government of national unity.

Analyst Insights on the MKP’s Handling of the Crisis

Political watchers have mixed views on how the MKP is dealing with this mess. KwaZulu-Natal analyst Zakhele Ndlovu praised the choice to bring in a legal team, saying it gives Hlophe a fair shot and avoids the look of a purge. He drew parallels to the Patriotic Alliance’s probe into its deputy leader Kenny Kunene, who faced questions after links to businessman Katiso “KT” Molefe surfaced.

Still, Ndlovu thinks the party might have overdone it by suspending Hlophe straight away. “I think they were supposed to discuss this matter with him, and I don’t think there was a need to suspend him. The fact that they have gone this far does not look good for Hlophe remaining with the MKP,” he noted. He warned that kicking Hlophe out could upset many supporters who see him as a hero for backing Zuma, especially since it would leave him without income after losing his judge’s benefits.

Other experts, like Dr Dale McKinley, have weighed in on the broader picture, pointing to the MKP’s quick rise and the challenges of managing a new party with big personalities. Formed just months before the 2024 polls after Zuma’s fallout with the ANC, the MKP surprised many by grabbing over 14% of the vote, mostly in KwaZulu-Natal. But internal squabbles, including this one, could test its unity as it pushes its radical agenda for land reform and nationalisation.

Jacob Zuma Appoints Des van Rooyen as MK Party’s Acting Parliamentary Leader Amid Internal Shake-Up

🔴Central News Weekly Edition | Issue 119 Download the Latest Print and E-Edition | Jacob Zuma Welcomes Tony Yengeni to MK Party as Second Deputy President in Major Leadership Shake-Up🔴

Jacob Zuma Appoints Des van Rooyen as MK Party’s Acting Parliamentary Leader Amid Internal Shake-Up

Des Van Rooyen

Des Van Rooyen

Shell Reviews High Court Appeal Permission in West Coast Offshore Drilling Case

Home Affairs Clarifies Palestinian Group’s OR Tambo Arrival: No Asylum Intent Stated Initially

Related Articles

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply