Political Killings in KwaZulu-Natal: Afrika Mayibuye President Warns Against Parallel Leadership Structures

Johannesburg — Afrika Mayibuye Party President and former MK Party Secretary-General has shed light on the root causes of political killings in KwaZulu-Natal and other provinces, linking them directly to internal party battles, councillor positions, and parallel leadership structures.

Speaking during an interview, he explained that the absence of organizational coherence within the MK Party created fertile ground for conflict. Initially, the party operated without a constitution, which fueled confusion and competing leadership claims across provinces and regions.

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Parallel Structures and Zuma’s Role

According to him, one of the biggest crises within the MK Party has been the existence of parallel leadership structures. In some regions, there are two or even three groups claiming authority. He pointed out that former President Jacob Zuma contributed to this instability by encouraging multiple factions.

“When people go to him and say we are leaders of the region, he says ‘Hambani niyo sebenza’ (go work). He tells the same to another group, and suddenly there are parallel structures,” he said.

He warned Zuma directly that such a system might have been sustainable during national elections but would collapse during local government elections. The danger, he cautioned, was that multiple candidates from the same party would compete for ward councillor positions, creating violent rivalries.

Political Killings and Councillor Positions

The Afrika Mayibuye leader emphasized that the majority of political killings in KwaZulu-Natal are linked to councillor positions. In his words, “The mechanism of fighting in KwaZulu-Natal for councillor positions has been the killing of people.”

He noted that intra-party violence escalates during candidate selection processes, particularly when leadership structures are not streamlined. This violence, he added, is not just a KwaZulu-Natal issue but has also been visible in provinces like Mpumalanga.

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Mpumalanga and Internal Conflicts

He detailed how leadership disputes in Mpumalanga further worsened divisions. Following the May 29 elections, conflicting appointments fueled instability. He cited the example of Mary Phadi, appointed as convener of Mpumalanga, who later faced backlash for excluding strong regions like Gert Sibande in her legislature list.

These unilateral decisions, often made without consultation, deepened mistrust and intensified factional battles. Even within the MK Women’s League, parallel structures emerged, with Zuma endorsing rival groups despite having initially recognized legitimate leadership.

The Warning to Political Parties

The Afrika Mayibuye president stressed that unless political organizations resolve internal dynamics and establish clear leadership structures, they risk setting members against each other.

His broader warning applies beyond the MK Party: “Don’t make members fight amongst themselves in the process of councillor selection. That advice should be given to all political parties.”

Outlook

With local government elections always intensifying competition at ward level, his caution highlights the urgent need for discipline, constitution-based governance, and transparent candidate selection to prevent bloodshed linked to political ambition.