By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has announced changes in its operational and leadership structures, appointing Sibonelo Nomvalo as the new party’s secretary general.
MK Party chairperson Nathi Nhleko made the announcement during a briefing in Umhlanga, Durban.
Nomvalo replaces Bongani Mncwango, who was appointed to the position in August last year after the removal of Floyd Shivambu.
He becomes the eighth SG of the party, which is less than 2 years. This is a party that is notorious for chopping and changing leaders.
Nomvalo is an active Member of Parliament (MP) for the party, serving on the Ad Hoc Committee to Investigate Allegations made by Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi since July 30, 2025.
Reacting to his appointment, Nomvalo said politics should not divide people and urges unity as he takes over as the secretary general.
“Politics must never spoil our humility. Politics must teach us that the only thing we differ on is our perspectives and it ends there. Beyond that, we are human beings. Leadership is not a right, but a privilege and a calling. This is an invitation to a very huge task, and I must respond together with the collective with whom I will execute the organisational mission,” he said.
Nhleko said the changes follow a meeting of the party’s National Officials, aimed at reconfiguring operational and leadership functions.
“The Secretary General, Dr Bongani Mncwango, has been relieved of his duties and Sibonelo Nomvalo is appointed as the new secretary general of Umkhonto weSizwe.
”He is charged to serve as the centre of organisational management and ensure the smooth operation of the party’s initiatives while maintaining its structural integrity,” Nhleko said.
Other changes include the removal of Bongani Baloyi as the head of elections, and has been replaced by Tholakhele Dlamini. He will remain the ordinary member of the party.
This Baloyi’s fourth party switch over a short time, which he said he had valid reasons for leaving each one. The DA’s black caucus was left adrift when its former leader, Mmusi Maimane, left the party. Regarding ActionSA, he said the party was against his suggestion that they work with the ANC, although they recently changed their tune.
He started his own party, Xiluva which failed to make an impact in the 2024 general elections.
In addition, Reggie Ngcobo has been relieved of his duties as Provincial Organiser in KwaZulu-Natal and will be replaced by Gobizizwe Makhanya, Nhleko said.
“These changes at the higher echelons of Umkhonto weSizwe should be interpreted within the broader context of the party’s organisational and ideological architecture,” Nhleko said
The newly formed MK party came third in last year’s elections – a major factor in the governing ANC losing its majority for the first time since democratic elections were introduced in 1994.
The party also emerged as the largest party in KwaZulu-Natal, winning 37 out of 80 seats in the provincial legislature. They were followed by the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) with 15 seats, the African National Congress (ANC) with 14, the Democratic Alliance (DA) with 11, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) with two, and the National Freedom Party (NFP) with one.
Although the MK party had hoped to secure a clear majority with more than 50% of the vote, disputes over the election results delayed coalition talks. This opened the door for the IFP, ANC, DA and NFP to form a coalition government with a total of 41 seats, leaving the MK out of power.
It remains to be seen how all this will play out, will South Africans will be mindful of all these shenanigans as they weigh up which party they should give their coveted votes to.