Nhlamulo Ndhlela fired hours after controversial MK Party statement
Ndhlela was removed as party spokesperson and as an MP just hours after issuing a statement placing himself among the organisation's top leaders tasked with directing the party through its newly launched MK Institute.
Chaos and confusion within the MK Party deepened at the weekend after national spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela became the latest senior leader to lose his position amid the party’s ongoing leadership musical chairs.
Ndhlela was removed as party spokesperson and as an MP just hours after issuing a statement placing himself among the organisation’s top leaders tasked with directing the party through its newly launched MK Institute.
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During the unveiling of the institute in Umhlanga on Saturday, Ndhlela was named alongside deputy president John Hlophe and the party’s National Assembly chief whip Mmabatho Mokoena-Zondi as senior leaders who would head the structure.
In a statement later drafted by Ndhlela, the institute was described as assuming “full responsibility for the political management and administration of the party”.
However, MK Party secretary-general Sibonelo Nomvalo swiftly moved to distance the party from the statement, describing it as unconstitutional and misleading.
The national officials reflected on the media statement issued by the MK Institute on the May 16, 2026, where certain pronouncements were made regarding the leadership architecture of the MK Party, and also purported changes to the current constitutional leadership dispensation in the party.
“The media statement does not reflect the views and decisions of the national leadership of the MK Party. Members of the institute have accepted the guidance of national officials, that the statement was necessarily beyond the powers of the entity and unconstitutional,” he said.
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The dramatic reversal unfolded despite the statement being read in the presence of MK Party leader and former president Jacob Zuma.
Nomvalo, however, said the party leadership had not been fully aware of the contents of the statement at the time.
“The [MK Party] president and national officials were not fully aware of the entirety of the statement until the statement was made public, and in particular the propositions dealing with the party’s leadership architecture.
“The national officials, therefore, hereby declare proposition of changing party’s leadership structure by the MK Institute issued on May 16, 2026, null and void,” he said.
Nomvalo confirmed that the decision to remove Ndhlela had been taken by the party’s national leadership, including Zuma.
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“The national officials further take this opportunity to announce the immediate appointment of a new national spokesperson for the MK Party, who is an academic and former editor, Sifiso Mahlangu,” he said.
He added that the MK Institute’s role was limited to providing “strategic and ideological support” to the party.
Ndhlela’s removal is the latest in a string of high-profile leadership changes within the MK Party, where senior figures have repeatedly been elevated to powerful positions only to be removed shortly afterwards.
Among those previously removed are former secretary-general Floyd Shivambu, former National Assembly chief whip Colleen Makhubela, her predecessor Mzwanele Manyi, and former secretary-general Sifiso Maseko.