By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Colleen Makhubele has stepped down as Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party Member of Parliament, making her resignation the fourth amid ongoing leadership turmoil.
In her letter addressed to the party leader Jacob Zuma on Monday, Makhubele said her decision came after careful reflection and deep consideration about her political journey and future role in public service.
She expressed gratitude to the leadership of the MK Party for entrusting her with the responsibility of representing the party in the National Assembly.
“In the short time I served in the parliament, I was hononured to rise to the highest level of the official opposition in parliament.
“I will forever cherish the opportunity to serve the nation, its citizens, and the MK Party,” said Makhubele.
Makhubele noted that while stepping down from her parliamentary role was not an easy decision, she believes she can continue contributing meaningfully to South Africa’s development outside of Parliament.
She became the MK party’s parliamentary chief whip in May 2025 before being removed from the position eight months later.
Makhubele joined the MK Party with high hopes, resigning as leader of the South African Rainbow Alliance (SARA) in 2024.
Makhubele said she did not regret her decision, which saw her abandon her political party that contested the 2024 general elections and join the MK Party.
The first to go was Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, Zuma’s daughter, who stepped down in November 2025 amid a scandal involving allegations she duped 17 South African men into military training in Russia, only for them to end up as mercenaries in the Ukraine war. Lucky Montana followed suit.
In early February 2026, Brian Molefe, another high-profile figure with a chequered history at state-owned enterprises like Eskom, stepped down as an MP to take up the party’s treasurer-general role.