Des van Rooyen has once once again got a late night nod to take up a position of authority.Van Rooyen was announced overnight as uMkhonto weSizwe Party’s new parliamentary Chief Whip replacing Colleen Makhubele who held the position for just a few months marked by allegations of bullying, nepotism and recently claims that she could be spying for the Israeli intelligence service Mozart.
“The MKP has full confidence that under his stewardship as Chief Whip the parliamentary caucus will be strengthened, disciplined and more strategically aligned with the party’s objective of the total liberation of our people,” said MKP in a statement announcing the reshuffle.It is not the first time that South Africans wake up to news of van Rooyen’s promotion to a powerful post. In 2015 he was appointed as finance minister, ironically by then president Jacob Zuma who now leads MKP earning the nickname ‘Weekend Special’ as he was removed the same weekend he was installed following pressure from a faction of business people.Makhubele had herself replaced Mzwanele Manyi who also served a short stint as Chief Whip. She’s amongst others accused of failing a security vetting process and of defying caucus leader and party deputy president John Hlophe. It is not clear when and how the decision was taken.
Her removal comes just a day after issuing a statement demanding that a publication retracts a story it ran on the allegations against her as well as well as calls for her removal. After a good showing during the 2024 general elections, MKP has struggled to maintain stability with constant reshuffle in key positions including the removal of Floyd Shivambu who has since formed his own Mayibuye Afrika Movement. Meanwhile Shuvambu’s suspended deputy in the new party Nolubabalo Mcina is expected to return to MKP after announcing her membership of the party was never terminated.
” They ( MKP) rejected my resignation so I am now volunteering in MKP and I will soon make an announcement. I am waiting for president Zuma who is in Burkina Faso because I have to talk to him first,” she said during an interview with the SABC.