By: ANG Reporter
Barely months after joining former President Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto We Sizwe Party (MKP), Patriotic Alliance reject Bonginkosi Khanyile has been sacked from his position as national coordinator of its youth league.
Africa News Global has reliably been informed that the decision to fire Khanyile from the powerful position came after he was accused of being divisive and making very controversial and polarising public statements.
In one such public statement that took MKP leadership and the country by surprise, Khanyile accused, Jabulani Khumalo, the party’s founder of being the mastermind behind attempts to topple Zuma as leader of the party.
In the video, which went viral, Khanyile accused Khumalo of planning to remove Zuma from his leadership position due to his age. “We will never allow that in the MKP,” he declared in the clip. He was adamant that they would not treat Zuma like how he was dealt with by the ANC and its secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula. Khanyile declared that Khumalo would never lead the MKP as long as Zuma was alive.
Following these controversial remarks, the MKP had to embark on a damage control exercise, dismissing rumours of a power struggle between Zuma and Khumalo, Additionally, the party released a statement stating that the video in which Khanyile was making the claims, was an “unfortunate” matter that would be addressed internally. MKP was at pains to clarify that there were no divisions or power struggles within the party and that they remained led by Zuma.
Last month, Khanyile made headlines again when he threatened at a press conference that all hell would break loose if Zuma and the MKP were not allowed on the ballot paper, come election day in May. He said they were prepared and fearless, and they were willing to lay down their lives if Zuma and the MKP were removed from the ballot paper.
Khanyile, joined MKP after being sacked by the Patriotic Alliance last December after he addressed the MKP gathering in KwaZulu-Natal alongside Zuma while he was still the leader of the PA’s youth wing.
The letter to Khanyile, dated 9 April 2024, seen by Africa News Global, signed by MKP Secretary-General Sihle Ngubane, states: “You are hereby removed from the position of National Coordinator uMkhonto weSizwe Youth League (MKYL), this removal is effective from today. Your role going forward will be to be a normal member of MK Youth League, you will be notified of your redeployment in due course.”
