MK Party: Hlophe's suspension necessary and 'meant to stablise the party'

Following the latest round of musical chairs in the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, questions have been raised over the stability of the country’s official opposition.

However, the party’s leadership insists it's still going through teething issues, which will eventually iron themselves out.

The MK Party recently suspended its deputy president and parliamentary leader, John Hlophe, for ill-discipline, saying he acted unilaterally by firing Colleen Makhubele as chief whip and replacing her with Des van Rooyen.

Since its inception about two years ago, the MK Party has had seven secretary-generals, four different parliamentary chief whips and constantly changes the list of its public representatives, whether in the National Assembly or in provincial legislatures.

Internal factional squabbles also continue to plague the country’s official opposition party.

Head of presidency, Magasela Mzobe, said that Hlophe's suspension was not easy; however, it was necessary as the party could not allow for ill-discipline to go unpunished.

"President [Jacob] Zuma was confronted with the reality of whether to allow this thing to continue or to use this opportunity to affirm the principle of collective leadership and, unfortunately and sadly, it ought to look like to other people like we are unstable, but it's meant to stabilise the party on its processes of decision-making."

Mzobe said that Hlophe would be subjected to the party’s internal disciplinary process.

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