MK Party Suspended Deputy President John Hlophe Amid Leadership Issues
Natalie Nyathi
The uMkhonto weSizwe Party has suspended its Deputy President and parliamentary leader, Dr. John Hlophe. This announcement was made on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, following internal conflicts over leadership decisions in the party.
Hlophe was suspended after he removed Colleen Makhubele as the Chief Whip in Parliament and replaced her with Des van Rooyen, known as the “weekend special” for his short time as Finance Minister in 2015. The MK Party said Hlophe made this decision without consulting party leaders, including former President Jacob Zuma, who was away in Burkina Faso at the time.
After Zuma returned, the party quickly reversed Hlophe’s decision, reinstating Makhubele as Chief Whip and suspending Hlophe from his leadership roles pending an investigation. The MK Party stated that this action was taken to support collective leadership and maintain discipline within the party.
The MK Party’s statement read, “The President has taken a decision to issue a precautionary suspension to the Party’s Deputy President and the Leader of the MKP Parliament Caucus Dr. John Hlophe, from both his leadership roles with immediate effect, pending a full investigation on his conduct.” The party added, “This decision is meant to affirm and send a strong message about the principle of collective leadership across all structures within the uMkhonto weSizwe Party.”
Hlophe, a former Western Cape judge president who was impeached by Parliament in February 2024, joined the MK Party after his removal from the bench. He quickly became the party’s deputy president and parliamentary leader after the 2024 elections.
However, his time in office has been troubled by controversy and internal problems. In addition to the recent leadership issue, Hlophe has faced accusations of sexual harassment from a former party member, Mary Phadi.
Since its formation in December 2023, the MK Party has seen significant internal struggles. The party has gone through several leadership changes, including different secretaries-general and chief whips.
The suspension of Hlophe highlights the challenges the MK Party faces as it tries to establish itself as a major political force in South Africa. The party received over 14% of the vote in the 2024 elections, making it the third-largest party in Parliament. However, internal divisions and leadership disputes could hurt the party’s stability and effectiveness.
Colleen Makhubele, whose removal led to Hlophe’s suspension, has also faced allegations of misconduct. She was accused of trying to secure a service provider contract worth more than R180,000 per month for a company where her husband is a director. She reportedly also failed a parliamentary vetting process.
As the MK Party deals with these internal challenges, the future of Hlophe and the party’s leadership remains uncertain.
