Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane has demoted four members of the Umkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), igniting outrage and legal threats within the party’s ranks.
Skhwanemi Nkuna, Treasure Thabede, Pro Khoza, and Mike Ngobeni were stripped of their roles last week, following a heated WhatsApp exchange.
In a letter dated January 3, Mkhwebane accused the members of defiance for exiting a provincial leadership group. She further alleged that they undermined her authority as the Mpumalanga convenor by spreading baseless accusations.
However, MKP provincial convener Mary Phadi has vowed legal action, claiming Mkhwebane violated a court order and overstepped her authority.
The Mbombela High Court ruled in December 2024 that Phadi is the legitimate MKP provincial convenor in Mpumalanga. Phadi’s legal team insists Mkhwebane has no authority to demote members or claim leadership.
“We emphasize that there is no pending appeal in this matter,” Phadi’s lawyers stated.
The legal team warned Mkhwebane to stop “misleading” members about her role and threatened contempt of court proceedings if she continues.
“Failure to desist will result in an application for contempt of court,” the lawyers wrote.
Claims of Misconduct and Leadership Disputes
Mkhwebane’s January 3 letter detailed her reasons for demoting the four members, including allegations of misconduct. She accused Khoza of intending to resign, Ngobeni of spreading false information, and others of calling for a crisis meeting.
Phadi’s legal representatives dismissed these claims as part of an attempt to delegitimize the party’s leadership.
The dispute has laid bare the internal divisions within MKP’s provincial structures in Mpumalanga, deepening existing rifts.
Silence from Key Figures
Mkhwebane did not respond to media inquiries sent via WhatsApp. MKP national spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela was also unavailable for comment.
For now, the controversy underscores the growing turmoil within MKP’s provincial ranks, with tensions showing no sign of easing.