Axed MKP cadres to march to Nkandla
TENSIONS are expected to run high as disgruntled uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) members plan to stage a protest outside former president Jacob Zuma’s Nkandla home tomorrow.
None of the expelled or demoted leaders wanted to confirm the protest, but the party’s national leadership confirmed it.
MKP’s national spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela said the party was aware of the action but downplayed the security concern for the former president.
MKP’s head of programmes in KwaZulu-Natal, Musa Mkhize, said he was aware of the march. Those planning a march in Nkandla would be vindicating the party that it was correct to remove them, he said.
Mkhize said it was not true that those expelled from the party were not given reasons for heir expulsion.
However, he refused to share the expulsion reasons, saying it was the right of those dismissed to go public with the reasons if they wanted to.
The party sent shock waves recently by expelling Jabulani Khumalo, who had registered the party, and other members. MKP was yet to publicly outline the reasons for Khumalo’s expulsion except for calling him “a rogue element”. But rumours were that Khumalo was working with the ANC.
Khumalo had refused to comment when the rumours surfaced, saying he was not commenting at that time.
Ndhlela had said the party would give reasons in a media briefing it was planning to call, but it never happened. Attempts to reach Khumalo yesterday were unsuccessful. He had not responded to questions sent to him by the time of publication.
Nhlanhla Ngidi, who was removed as MKP provincial co-ordinator, denied knowledge of the march.
Another party member, who was once accused of being an ANC spy, Thulani Gamede, denied any knowledge of the march, saying he did not think anyone would do that to Zuma.
Gamede was fingered by Injeje yabeNguni group leader Phumlani Mfeka as one of the party members working with a top ANC national executive committee member to destroy the MKP from within. Both Gamede and the ANC denied the claims.
An MKP party member in Gauteng, Themba Mnisi, who was heard on a circulating voice note warning the marchers, confirmed yesterday that the party was informed by its intelligence that those expelled from the party were planning to “invade” Zuma’s house. He had already informed Zuma, he said. “We got the information from our intelligence and I have sent the message to ubaba,” said Mnisi.
In the voice clip, Mnisi said the march was being organised by people who took money to destroy the party. After seeing that their sabotage plan had failed they now wanted to attack Nkandla. He warned that Zuma’s home was not Luthuli House and that they would find MKP members ready for them; Nkandla was not a playground.
Gamede said he accepted the decision and would remain a loyal party member. The party said it was redeploying, and not sacking these leaders, but insiders said the MKP was cleansing itself of ANC spies.