'The party is not falling apart': MKP leadership says recent changes to structures not signs of discontent in caucus

CAPE TOWN - The MK Party's parliamentary leadership has dismissed suggestions that recent changes made to its structures were signs of discontent within its caucus.

Parliamentary leader, John Hlophe, confirmed the authenticity of a leaked letter demoting spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela from the whippery, but said it had garnered unnecessary media attention.

He also rubbished claims that there was a revolt in the caucus to remove recently appointed chief whip, Colleen Makhubele, saying that the recent changes were merely strategic and administrative.

ALSO READ:

• As fresh factional squabbles hit MK Party, spokesperson insists it’s a ‘stable organisation’

• MK Party says letter to Zuma describing his daughter as disruptive & rude is fake

• Shivambu claims many MK Party members unhappy with how organisation is run

Hlophe, the MK Party's deputy leader, said that he was baffled as to why the latest changes to the party's parliamentary whippery had made news headlines and were being interpreted as chaos within the caucus.

Hlophe said this was a mere realignment and matching new MPs who joined the caucus last week to their areas of expertise.

"We are new, and we've attracted members from all walks of life. Some are coming with clean hands, others are coming with a bad motive. So changes are important, and they are inevitable."

Hlophe said that Ndhlela had been dishonest about communication from his office to demote him as the party’s communications whip.

Ndhlela remains the party’s national spokesperson.

"The party is not falling apart. Secondly, there's no petition here at all in terms of which Commander Makhubele is being kicked out. If anything, she's done exceptionally well."

Hlophe was not prepared to delve into the contents of the letter he wrote to party president, Jacob Zuma, about the disruptions caused by Ndhlela and Zuma's daughter, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, in caucus meetings.