Former president Jacob Zuma has announced a major restructuring of the MK Party ahead of the 2026 local government elections.
The shake-up includes the disbanding of the party’s National High Command and the creation of a new MK Party Institute that will oversee the movement’s political and organisational direction.
The party held a press briefing on Saturday at Coastlands Skye Hotel in uMhlanga. In a statement afterwards, Zuma said the restructuring followed an 18-month organisational and ideological assessment of the party. He added that the new Institute would become the movement’s central strategic and administrative authority, with all organisational structures reporting directly to it.
The Institute will be politically led by party deputy president Mandlakayise Hlophe and includes senior party figures such as spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela, General Manana, Oupa Mathebula, Khanyisile Litchfield-Tshabalala and Lindelani Mbambo.
Zuma announced that the Institute would immediately begin identifying and forming a new National Executive Committee. The party said the changes were aimed at transforming the MK Party from a conventional political party into a broader liberation movement.
The party also indicated that it wants South Africa to have a new constitutional conversation rooted in African traditions, values and identity. According to the statement, the current Constitution remains heavily influenced by Roman-Dutch law and does not fully reflect the aspirations of the African majority.
The MK Party further stated that it would continue advocating for a review of the Constitution while pushing for what it called African restoration and total liberation. The new structures will focus on preparing for the 2026 local government elections and the 2029 national elections through grassroots mobilisation and community-based campaigns.
