uMkhonto weSizwe member Mzwanele Manyi has been appointed as the chief whip of the MK Party, just hours after being sworn in as a Member of Parliament (MP).
Manyi, who recently resigned from the EFF, has replaced Sihle Ngubane in this key parliamentary role.
In a statement on Wednesday, the party welcomed Manyi and said his addition brings a wealth of experience to the party’s parliamentary caucus.
“Honourable Manyi brings a wealth of experience to this administrative yet political role, as he served in government as a director-general and led as a corporate executive in the private sector. His extensive expertise will add impetus to the ongoing work within the party, while building upon the solid foundation laid by honourable Ngubane.
“We are confident that honourable Manyi’s leadership will further strengthen our party’s commitment to serving the people with integrity and dedication,” party spokesperson, Nhlamulo Ndhlela, said.
On Ngubane, Ndhlela said he would continue serving the party as an ordinary member in the National Assembly.
“Honourable Sihle Ngubane will continue serving as an ordinary member of the National Assembly as assigned to the committees which he continues to participate in,” he said.
On Wednesday, the party saw the swearing-in of 10 of its new members to the National Assembly.
Among those unveiled as the party’s new MPs were Siyabonga Gama, Brian Molefe, Tony Montana, Papa Penny (Gezani Kobane), Nompumelelo Gasa, Thulani Gamede and many others.
All the new members took up seats that have been left vacant by the ousted 15 members of the National Assembly, who are challenging their removal in court.
EFF national spokesperson, Sinawo Thambo, was also sworn in, replacing former deputy president Floyd Shivambu, while Nazier Paulsen took Manyi's place.
On the swearing-in of its new MPs, the MKP said it represented Zuma’s commitment to assemble the most brilliant and capable members of society into the party fold.
“There is no doubt that that these leaders have both collective and individual capacities to gallantly lead South Africa and the continent into optimal prosperity. These are people with verified credentials and track records in their various fields of government participation and leadership.
“The MKP fully embraces these capable and experienced public servants because we know that the neo-colonial elite and establishments, as well as the Ramaphosa-led ANC, hounded them out of state-owned enterprises so that they (can) weaken them and later privatise them,” Ndhlela added.
However, the DA has slammed the swearing-in of these individuals who have been given the face of state capture tag.
“The swearing-in of individuals implicated in state capture as Members of Parliament for the MK Party today is a travesty and an insult to the people of South Africa, who have suffered the devastating consequences of corruption and mismanagement under the very individuals now poised to represent them in Parliament,” the party said.
The Star