uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party President Jacob Zuma has assumed direct control of the party’s finances after revoking all signing authority on the party’s bank accounts from all officials, including the secretary-general and treasurer-general.
Newsnote has seen a letter dated 23 July in which Zuma informed all national, provincial, regional and other relevant party structures of his decision.
In the letter, Zuma wrote: “With immediate effect, all signing powers and authority to operate any and all MK Party bank accounts are hereby revoked from every existing signatory, regardless of office or position held.”
He further instructed that “no individual or structure, including the secretary-general, treasurer-general, deputy secretary-general, deputy treasurer-general, provincial convenors, coordinators, or any other office-bearer, may access, instruct, authorise or transact on any MK Party bank account without my prior written approval.”
Newsnote understands that the decision follows allegations by senior party members that funds belonging to the organisation were misappropriated by other senior officials.
Zuma described the intervention as a temporary measure, saying it was necessary “to protect the integrity of the organisation’s financial resources and to ensure proper accountability while internal processes are underway.”
He added that “this directive remains in force until further notice, and any person who acts contrary to it will be deemed to be acting without authority and in violation of party instructions.”
The move is the latest sign of internal tensions within the MK Party, which has experienced a series of leadership disputes and organisational challenges since emerging as one of South Africa’s largest opposition parties following the 2024 general elections.
