By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Former Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MP Busisiwe Mkhwebane and former African National Congress (ANC) member Willies Mchunu, have officially joined the MK party.
Mkhwebane resigned from the EFF on 16 October, a year after joining the party, while Mchunu resigned from the ANC, citing concerns about the party’s current trajectory.
This announcement comes as various political parties gear up for the 2026 local government elections. Notably, Mkhwebane joins her husband, David Skosana, who represents MK Party as an MP in Parliament.
During a media briefing held in Johannesburg on Friday, MK Party introduced both Mkhwebane and Mchunu as new party members.
MK Party Secretary General Sfiso Maseko says Mkhwebane will be the organisation’s Mpumalanga leader and Mchunu would take up the same role in the party’s stronghold, in KwaZulu-Natal.
“Advocate Mkhwebane is a seasoned public servant, and true fighter for justice and equal rights, we. All bear testament to that. She is the former PP who was unlawfully removed from the office, for confronting the status quo and asking the necessary and relevant questions to the sitting head of state.”
Meanwhile, Mchunu, will identify leaders for the MK Party in KwaZulu-Natal, with Maseko stating that all current MKP leadership structures will “cease to exist” with the former premier’s appointment.
“He will play a leading role in reversing the devastating effects of the right-wing government of the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Inkatha Freedom Party. KwaZulu-Natal deserves a progressive government of forces that are not associated with apartheid,” Maseko said.
He added that Mchunu had the “necessary political ideology and organisational capability” to steer the party into a “stable, responsible and responsive movement in the province”.
Maseko stressed the importance of the KwaZulu-Natal province, which the MKP clinched from the ANC in the 2024 national and provincial elections.
“KZN is important to the party because we will in the foreseeable future constitute a government in the province,” Maseko stated.
Mkhwebane said she feels at home in the MK Party.
“I joined uMkhonto weSizwe because I felt it’s the home which understands the persecution of the black people; the oppression. The challenges which we are facing and fighting the captured system. So, I could relate to the constitution of uMkhonto weSizwe.”
Several political formations have recently closed shop to join the MK party, including Colleen Makhubele’s South African Rainbow Alliance (Sara), the Xiluva Party of former Sedibeng mayor Bongani Baloyi, and Andile Mgxithama’s Black First Land First.
Former EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu also left the red berets to join the MK party.
When MK Party leader Jacob Zuma took to the podium, he spoke on a variety of issues, from the geopolitics of the day to the government of national unity.
He also ranted about political journalists for being “shocked” about Mchunu and Mkhwebane joining his party.
Criticising journalists, he said leaders were “stealing money and putting it in sofas”, and claimed reporters did not bat an eye.
Zuma added reporters were interested in MK Party fights over positions.
“I refuse. Let us come here, deal with issues, clean, fair and fine.”
Zuma also said he will appeal the African National Congress (ANC) national disciplinary committee decision to fire him.
He has said he belonged to the “real” ANC, not that of current President Cyril Ramaphosa, who took office after Zuma was pressured to step down in 2018 amid corruption allegations.