MK Party Suspends Nhlamulo Ndhlela’s Membership After Axing Him as MP

Former MK Party National Spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela has been suspended from the party a day after being axed as MP. Image: X.com/NhlamuloNdhlela

Durban – In a sudden and dramatic political shake-up, the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) has formally suspended the membership of its former national spokesperson, Nhlamulo Ndhlela, just a day after stripping him of his seat as a Member of Parliament.

The initial announcement of his removal from parliament was delivered during a media briefing led by party president Jacob Zuma and secretary-general Sibonelo Nomvalo in Durban on Monday, 18 May 2026.

While the leadership confirmed that Ndhlela was being removed from his parliamentary and spokesperson duties effective immediately, they did not initially reveal the specific reasons behind his abrupt dismissal. In his place, the MK Party quickly announced the appointment of veteran journalist Sifiso Mahlangu.

Mahlangu, a former editor of The Star, is a well-known media figure who previously served as a prominent political analyst and host of the flagship show Straight Talk on ANN7, the now-defunct satellite television channel which was owned by the Gupta family.

Despite the abrupt nature of his removal, Ndhlela took to social media platform X to publicly congratulate his successor, signaling camaraderie behind the scenes. “Congratulations and welcome to you my Brother, you were there from the beginning in 2023, and as per our call last night we reflected on the role you played when MK PARTY was announced. There couldn’t have been a better person to take over this responsibility than you,” Ndhlela tweeted.

Interestingly, the public display of solidarity was quickly overshadowed as the MK Party escalated matters further today by issuing an official media statement confirming that Ndhlela’s party membership has now been formally suspended. According to the statement dated 19 May 2026, President Jacob Zuma instituted the suspension with immediate effect pending the outcome of a rigorous internal investigation, citing “serious allegations relating to misconduct, sowing division within the organization, and conduct that has brought the party into disrepute.”

The party has taken a strict disciplinary stance, instructing Ndhlela to immediately return and surrender all MK Party property. This includes:

• Official documents and digital devices
• Account details, passwords, and access credentials
• All party materials and resources

The MK Party further confirmed that formal correspondence has already been forwarded to the office of the Chief Whip, Ms. Mmabatho Mokoena Zondi, officially apprising her of the suspension.

According to leadership, the suspension will remain firmly in effect until the internal investigation has been fully concluded and a final determination on Ndhlela’s future within the organization is made. The MK Party concluded by reaffirming its commitment to “organizational discipline, unity, accountability, and the protection of the integrity of the movement.”