MK Party’s Mpumalanga Leadership Battle Heats Up, Mary Phadi Says She Has Jacob Zuma’s Blessing

• Mary Phadi was the first uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party convenor in Mpumalanga before she was fired
• Former Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane replaced Phadi until the latter was reinstated by a court decision
• Phadi now claims that she has Jacob Zuma's blessing to lead the party in the province despite Mkhwebane's presence

Briefly News journalist Byron Pillay has spent a decade reporting on the South African political landscape, crime and social issues. He spent 10 years working for a community newspaper before transitioning to online.

MPUMALANGA - Who is the in charge of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) in Mpumalanga?

According to Mary Phadi, she has Jacob Zuma’s blessing to lead the political party in the province. Phadi made the comments on Tuesday, 27 May, at a media briefing in the province.

Phadi states she has Zuma's blessing

Speaking at the media briefing, Phadi declared that she and her team had the blessings of the party president, Zuma.

Phadi stated that she had met with the former State president in recent weeks, and he instructed them to continue their work in the province.

“We want to assure the province about the ongoing work being done by this leadership. President Jacob Zuma has said to us we must go and work, and that’s what we are doing,” she said.

Phadi’s comments come amid the recent confusion after the party announced that former Public Protector, Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane, was the new provincial coordinator.

Phadi was the first provincial convener

Phadi was the party’s first convenor in Mpumalanga, before she was fired on 19 November 2024. Jacob Zuma fired her following her alleged involvement in an assassination plot.

Phadi took the matter to court, and on 3 December 2024, she was reinstated. The courts ruled that her dismissal was unconstitutional, and she returned to the post.

By then, the party had already appointed former Economic Freedom Fighters member, Mkhwebane, to the post. This led to confusion in the party, with two factions competing for control.

Phadi has insisted that the original structure, which was inaugurated in June 2023, remains intact and functional. She maintained that while the party announced Mkhwebane as the new convenor, she wasn’t appointed to the post.

“There is a difference between being announced and being appointed,” Phadi said.

Phadi claims Mkhwebane is a normal member

The MK Party member also stated that Mkhwebane was just an original member and held no power. Mkhwebane was fast tracked to the Provincial Convenor role after she left the EFF and joined the MKP.

She added that all recent leadership changes in the province would be swiftly reversed to prevent confusion among supporters.

You can watch the statement below.

Phadi wants Floyd Shivambu gone

Briefly News also reported that Phadi recently posted a video criticising the party's Secretary-General, Floyd Shivmbu.

Phadi also slammed a faction of members in Mpumalanga for saying that they align with Shivambu.

The Mpumalanga Provincial Convenor called for Shivambu to go, and further distanced herself from any faction associated with him.

Source: Briefly News