A meeting of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) turned chaotic on Wednesday night, with physical altercations breaking out as deep divisions within the party came to a head.
The gathering, held on April 23 in Pietermaritzburg, descended into violence after accusations emerged that some members had accepted bribes to oppose MKP Secretary General Floyd Shivambu. Long-standing tensions over internal leadership disputes reached a boiling point as the meeting spiraled out of control.
A 57-second video, widely shared on social media by @ScrollaAfrica, shows party members—some wearing MKP-branded attire—shouting at each other before the situation escalated into a physical confrontation. The footage captures punches being thrown, chairs being flung across the room, and a voice urgently calling for security to intervene.
Sources at the meeting reported that an audio recording surfaced, allegedly implicating an unnamed party member in a plot to bribe several female MKP members in an attempt to weaken Shivambu’s position. The accusation further inflamed existing factional tensions within the party.
“This is no longer about policy differences—this is about betrayal and corruption within our ranks,” said an anonymous MKP insider. “The party is at a crossroads.”
Shivambu, who joined the MKP last year after leaving the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), has faced opposition from some members since his appointment as Secretary General. His leadership has been challenged by supporters of Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former president Jacob Zuma and a key figure in the MKP.
While Duduzile previously apologized for publicly criticizing Shivambu, her brother Edward Zuma recently reignited tensions by referring to Shivambu as a “rascal” in a WhatsApp message. He further accused Shivambu of collaborating with ANC figures, including Gwede Mantashe and Zweli Mkhize, to undermine the MKP from within.
The MKP, formed by Zuma loyalists after his fallout with the ANC, now appears increasingly divided. The violent clash in Pietermaritzburg has exposed the depth of internal strife, raising concerns about the party’s ability to remain unified ahead of the next election cycle.
As tensions linger, there are growing calls for an independent investigation into the bribery allegations and disciplinary measures against those involved in the violence. So far, the party’s leadership has not issued an official statement on the incident.
