By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has announced that treasurer-general Brian Molefe has resigned as member of Parliament with immediate effect.
In a statement on Wednesday afternoon, the party says, Molefe will focus on managing party funding and fundraising.
“This emphasises the strategic importance of strengthening organisational capacity, financial discipline and resource mobilisation as central pillars in advancing the mission of the movement,” the party said.
The party affirmed that this transition is in full alignment with that directive and with the collective interests of the organisation.
The MK Party commended Molefe for the disciplined manner in which he has served in Parliament and for his unwavering commitment to the revolutionary programme of the movement.
This marks the second time Molefe has resigned from Parliament. In 2017, he represented the African National Congress(ANC) in the National Assembly for approximately three months before resigning under a cloud of controversy.
His tenure for the MK Party was notably longer, having served as an MP for roughly one year and four months.
His resignation follows a similar move by another controversial former state-owned entity boss, Lucky Montana, who also recently resigned as an MP for the MK Party.
Molefe’s appointment marks the latest chapter in a career that has spanned high-level public sector roles, political activism, and persistent legal battles over allegations of corruption.
Born in 1966, Molefe has been a political figure since the 1980s, actively involved in anti-apartheid struggles. He holds a Master’s degree in Law, which he obtained in 2025.
His professional journey in the public sphere began in earnest in the early 2000s, where he served as Deputy Director-General at the National Treasury before rising to prominence in state-owned enterprises.
In 2011, Molefe was appointed CEO of Transnet, South Africa’s freight and logistics giant, under the presidency of Zuma.
During his tenure, he oversaw ambitious infrastructure projects, including a massive rail expansion plan aimed at modernising the country’s transport network.
However, this period would later become mired in controversy, particularly surrounding the infamous locomotives procurement deal.
Valued at over R50 billion, the contract involved acquiring 1,064 locomotives from international suppliers.
However, investigations revealed irregularities that allegedly facilitated the siphoning of funds to entities linked to the Gupta family, who played a central role in the State Capture era. Despite these clouds, Molefe entered politics formally in 2024, securing a seat in the National Assembly for MK Party after the general elections.