MK Party appoints Des van Rooyen as its new Chief Whip

The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has shaken up its parliamentary top brass again, appointing former Finance Minister Des van Rooyen as its new Chief Whip.

This is the fourth Chief Whip the party has appointed since it entered Parliament 15 months ago.

The party said under van Rooyen’s leadership, the parliamentary caucus will be strengthened and more strategically aligned with the party’s mission.

Veteran parliamentarian van Rooyen takes over the reins as whip from Colleen Makhubele, who was appointed in May just four months after she was sworn in as a member of Parliament (MP).

Makhubele - a former speaker of the Johannesburg City Council - toppled Mzwanele Manyi from the role.

It was initially held by Sihle Ngubane when the party made its parliamentary debut as the official opposition after last year’s elections.

The MK Party has not given reasons for removing Makhubele from the role after just five months but said she remains an MP.

The party said in his new role, van Rooyen will enrich the work of the parliamentary caucus, sharpen its political focus and enhance its ability to represent the will of the people.

Van Rooyen - the country’s most short-lived finance minister – and also a former Cooperative Governance Minister - has been serving the party on the finance committee since he was sworn in as an MP last year.

Makhubele has not responded to requests for comment.