MK Party Member of Parliament Vusi Shongwe was involved in a heated confrontation with African National Congress (ANC) MPs Xola Nqola and Khusela Diko in Parliament after alleging that ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula had stolen money.
The clash unfolded during a parliamentary sitting, where tensions escalated after Shongwe made the unsubstantiated allegation while addressing the House. His remarks immediately drew strong objections from ANC benches, with MPs demanding that he withdraw the statement and provide evidence to support his claims.
ANC MP Xola Nqola was among the first to respond, accusing Shongwe of abusing parliamentary privilege to make defamatory claims. Nqola insisted that Parliament should not be used as a platform for what he described as reckless and damaging allegations against senior leaders without proof. He called on the presiding officer to intervene and ensure that parliamentary rules were upheld.
MK Party MP Vusi Shongwe clashed with ANC MPs Xola Nqola and Khusela Diko after alleging that ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula had stolen money.#AdHocCommitte pic.twitter.com/LU7oXuJalY
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Khusela Diko also weighed in, sharply criticising Shongwe’s conduct. She described the allegation against Mbalula as irresponsible and harmful to the integrity of Parliament, arguing that such claims undermine public trust in democratic institutions. Diko maintained that if Shongwe had credible evidence, the appropriate channels existed to pursue the matter through law enforcement agencies rather than making accusations in the House.
Shongwe, however, stood by his remarks, asserting that he was exercising his right as a Member of Parliament to hold the executive and ruling party leaders accountable. He argued that allegations of corruption within government and the ANC should not be shielded from public scrutiny, adding that Parliament had a duty to confront such issues openly.
The exchange became increasingly tense, prompting intervention from the presiding officer, who urged MPs to maintain order and decorum. Shongwe was instructed to either substantiate his claim or reconsider his wording, in line with parliamentary rules governing unparliamentary language and defamatory statements.
The incident highlights the growing friction between the MK Party and the ANC, as well as the increasingly combative atmosphere in Parliament amid heightened political contestation. It also underscores ongoing debates about the limits of parliamentary privilege, accountability, and the responsible handling of corruption allegations within South Africa’s democratic institutions.
