MK Party appoints Brian Molefe as Treasurer-General, Colleen Makhubele removed as Chief Whip

• The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party announced its recent leadership change amid a continuous battle within the leadership
• The party's President, Jacob Zuma, axed Collen Makhubele from her position as the chief whip of Parliament and replaced her with a temporary replacement
• He also removed the treasurer-general and placed former Transnet executive Brian Molefe as the party's new Treasurer-General

Tebogo Mokwena, affiliated with Briefly News, covered local and international politics, political analysis, and interviews in South Africa for Daily Sun and Vutivi Business News during his 10 years of experience.

GAUTENG — The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party announced yet another leadership shakeup as the party president made changes to the top leadership structure. He replaced the party's Treasurer-General and Chief Whip in Parliament.

The party posted a statement on its @MkhontoweSizwex X account on 12 January 2026 announcing the changes party president Jacob Zuma made. Zuma removed the party's Treasurer-General, Mpiyakhe Limba, and replaced him with former Transnet executive Brian Molefe. Zuma also removed the party's Chief Whip in Parliament, Colleen Makhubele. He replaced her with the party's National Council of Provinces Chief Whip, Mmabatho Mokoena-Zondi.

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MK Party leader reshuffles leadership

In a statement, party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela said that Molefe brings extensive experience in public administration, governance, finance, and organisational leadership.

"His proven track record, strategic capability, and deep understanding of complex financial systems render him suitably qualified to assume this critical responsibility at this phase of the party's growth," he said.

The party did not explain removing Limba. It also did not explain why Makhubele was removed. Instead, it thanked them for their service. The party also said that Vanessa Calvert, who was suspended from her position as the Chief of Staff in the Parliamentary Caucus, was reinstated.

Read the announcement on X here:

Collen Makhubele's history with the MK Party

Makhubele, who was appointed the party's chief whip in May 2025 after Zuma fired Mzwanele Manyi, clashed with members of the party a month into her position. She was accused of demonstrating poor leadership, and MPs approached Zuma, asking him to remove her. She was also accused of alienating members due to her poor leadership.

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Zuma initially fired her in November 2025 after she was accused of trying to secure a contract worth R180,000 for her husband's company. She also reportedly suspended Calvert for not authorising the company for the contract. However, she denied the allegations against her.

Duduzile Zuma steps down as MK Party MP

In a related article, Briefly News reported that Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla is another MK Party member who vacated her position. She resigned as a member of Parliament on 28 November 2025 during a press briefing held by the party in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.

Zuma-Sambudla voluntarily resigned after she was accused of recruiting 17 young men to fight for Russia in Donbas, Ukraine. Zuma-Sambudla denied that she was behind the recruiting of the men and said that she was also deceived.

Source: Briefly News