Paula Luckhoff8 August 2024 | 14:25

MK Party lets go of more than 20 of its MPs - report

John Perlman talks to Eyewitness News reporter Babalo Ndenze to find out what exactly is going on.

MK Party lets go of more than 20 of its MPs - report

uMkhonto WeSizwe (MK) Party members celebrate on 26 March 2024, after the Electoral Court dismissed the ANC's application to have the party deregistered. Picture: Thabiso Goba/Eyewitness News

The MK Party has fired at least 20 of its Members of Parliament (MPs), reports News24.

The publication says it's seen letters written by National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza to some members informing them that she'd received correspondence from the party's chief whip, Sihle Ngubane, to say that their membership had been terminated and they could no longer serve in Parliament. 

On the Afternoon Drive, Eyewitness news reporter Babalo Ndenze also confirms sight of various relevant letters on social media.

Ndenze tells John Perlman he's waiting for a response after reaching out to Ngubane and to Parliament for confirmation that this correspondence is indeed authentic.

At the crux of the apparent resignations or terminations of MK MPs is party lists that are not compliant with the Electoral Act, Ndenze says.

It is likely part of the post-election process to correct MK's noncompliance, as the party has been sitting with five vacancies up till now.

"For example in a letter that we had in front of us... it's said the MK Party's reserve lists are not depleted and the Electoral Act indicates that for a list to be changed it must first be depleted. It's not the case with these lists, so the MK Party cannot do this."
"This was done to allow five members including Lucky Montana, Brian Molefe and Penny Penny to be sworn in as members... The reason for the swearing-in delay for these five - who will be quite senior when it comes to the National Assembly, is because the party's lists are not in order."
Babalo Ndenze, Reporter - Eyewitness News

For more detail, listen to the interview audio at the top of the article