One of the Umkhonto Wesizwe (MK) Party’s founding members has resigned from the KwaZulu-Natal legislature, saying he no longer has confidence in former President Jacob Zuma and the ANC’s splinter party.
Induna Phumlani Mfeka surrendered his seat yesterday, February 17, but said nothing about his party membership.
Mfeka was a long time Zuma loyalist and was among the first group of senior ANC members in KwaZulu-Natal who dumped the governing party after Zuma officially endorsed the MK Party on 16 December 2023.
In his letter to Willies Mchunu, the Convener of the MK Party in KwaZulu-Natal, Mfeka said he had written a detailed letter to Zuma to explain his sudden move.
“Macingwane, I write this letter to inform you of my decision to resign. I have detailed the reasons of (sic) my decision in an expansive letter to the MK Party President Jacob Zuma, and detailed how it happened that he depleted my confidence in him.
“A leader I have stood by since he was first unceremoniously removed by former President [Thabo] Mbeki many years ago. Not once have I flinched or retreated in my defense of him to this very day and this is of public knowledge,” Mfeka said in the letter seen by African Times.
Mfeka said he is a man of principles, hence he resigned. He further warned that should his name be sullied for resigning, he will call a press conference to spill the beans.
“I am a person of principle, and my principle has led me to this decision as I no longer have confidence that the MKP will be able to advance the revolution as was presented by President Jacob Zuma on the 16th of December 2023.
“I will avoid getting into details in this letter as letters tend to leak however I will appreciate that my name should not be dragged through the mud in the attempt to portray me in a negative light in trying to remedy public sentiment as that will compel me to call a media briefing wherein I shall speak my truth, which I can assure the MK Party will by no means survive as there’s far too much that the public is unaware of, including my constituency which is amaKhosi neziNduna and abelaphi (traditional healers).
“My sincerest appreciation to President Zuma for the opportunity to serve and make a meaningful contribution,” Mfeka warned.
The spokesperson of the MK Party, Nhlamulo Ndhlela, did not comment when he was asked about Mfeka’s departure.
