MK Party Remains Stable Amid Leadership Shake-Up, Says Duduzile Zuma‑Sambudla
By Nkosana Khumalo
MK Party MP Duduzile Zuma‑Sambudla has reassured supporters and the public that there is “no destabilisation within the party,” following recent leadership reconfigurations that saw the redeployment of Floyd Shivambu as Secretary‑General and the dismissal of Jimmy Manyi as Chief Whip. Speaking at a party gathering in Seshego, Limpopo, Zuma‑Sambudla emphasised that the party remains on a firm growth trajectory, illustrating a confident strategy to solidify its political relevance in South Africa’s evolving landscape .
“Once again, there is no instability. We are very, very stable. We do things that make sense to our party. It doesn’t matter what it looks like from the outside, for us it makes sense,” she stated, signalling unity behind the party’s leadership decisions.
Shivambu’s Removal and Manyi’s Replacement
Earlier this week, Floyd Shivambu was removed from his position as Secretary‑General of the MK Party and reassigned to the National Assembly. Party leader Jacob Zuma and senior officials held a strategic meeting on 2 June 2025 to review Shivambu’s conduct, particularly his unsanctioned visit to preacher Shepherd Bushiri’s church in Malawi—a move deemed disrespectful of party procedures and inconsistent with Section 3(j) of the party’s constitution. Shivambu’s visit, which was not officially sanctioned, drew sharp criticism for undermining the party’s image and prompting civic backlash .
Simultaneously, Jimmy Manyi was removed as Chief Whip within the National Assembly and replaced by Colleen Makhubele. Manyi, aligned with Shivambu, expressed frustration over these moves. He was particularly incensed by the rumoured elevation of Phumlani Mfeka to Secretary‑General, tweeting: “Now Phumlani Mfeka who refused to be led by Shivhambu will be the boss? Politics is a dangerous game” .
Phumlani Mfeka Gains Momentum
Phumlani Mfeka, a founding member of the MK Party and leader of the Injeje YabeNguni Civic Organisation, has emerged as a leading contender for Secretary‑General. A staunch supporter of Duduzile Zuma, his political resurgence followed a departure in February and a return in May. Mk insiders report that Jacob Zuma personally encouraged Mfeka’s re-entry, confident in his ability to reconnect the party with its traditional leadership base .
Mfeka’s credentials include deep-rooted ties with KwaZulu‑Natal monarchs, and his promotion is being seen as a strategic move to consolidate traditional authority within the party’s structure. Earlier ambitions saw Mfeka considered for KwaZulu‑Natal premiership, reflecting his influence within the party and traditional leadership contours .
Factional Tensions Yet to Be Resolved
Despite Zuma‑Sambudla’s confidence in the party’s stability, factional divisions remain evident. Manyi’s outburst reflects a deeper ideological rift between supporters of the old guard—aligned with Shivambu and Manyi—and traditionalist camps represented by Mfeka and Duduzile Zuma. The reshuffle may signal a broader repositioning, with the party leaning more heavily on its traditional support base .
Analysts suggest that appointing Mfeka could act as a counterweight to the perceived influence of newcomers in the party, drawing on the legitimacy of its founding members and reinforcing old alliances .
Zuma’s Vision for Growth
Duduzile Zuma‑Sambudla framed these changes as necessary recalibrations rather than signs of instability. “We started crawling, now we are going to walk, soon we will be sprinting to the Union Buildings,” she said, emphasising the MK Party’s ambitions to scale and establish itself as a credible alternative to mainstream political forces .
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