The uMkhonto weSizwe Party's (MK Party) pattern of high-profile expulsions claimed fresh senior lawmakers on Thursday, with the abrupt exit of Members of Parliament Khanyisile Litchfield-Tshabalala and Pumlani Kubukeli.
The MK Party said both members’ conduct had been found to be detrimental to the organisation’s good name, reputation, integrity and interests. In a statement issued to the media, the party said their conduct had undermined its unity and organisational discipline.
“The decision has been taken under the executive authority vested in the Office of the President in terms of Section 7(2)(h) of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party’s Constitution, which empowers the president to establish, restructure, appoint or remove organisational structures or deployees in the interest of the party and its strategic direction. Their membership in the uMkhonto weSizwe Party is therefore terminated with immediate effect,” the MK Party statement read.
It said it has already begun the process of removing the two politicians from the National Assembly.
However, Litchfield - Tshabalala and Kubukeli said they were unaware of any acts of misconduct and had not been asked to appear before a disciplinary hearing. They linked their expulsions to their roles in the Strategic Presidential Team, which they said was intended to be a decision - making body above the national officials.
In a statement, Kubukeli described his expulsion as unprocedural and politically motivated.
He said his expulsion could not be divorced from the events that preceded it, including his appointment as chairperson of the Strategic Presidential Team and his participation in efforts to address serious governance and financial concerns within the party. He also referred to his decision to ensure that allegations concerning the misuse of public funds were reported to the appropriate authorities.
“I will not accept punishment for raising matters that demand accountability. Of particular concern is the reliance on Section 7(2)(h) as a purported basis for my expulsion.
“That provision does not, in my understanding, confer upon the president an unfettered power to expel a member of the party. Rather, it concerns the president’s power to pardon or remit sanctions imposed on a member following the applicable disciplinary process. It cannot reasonably be transformed into a presidential power to bypass the party’s disciplinary structures and summarily terminate a member’s membership,” his statement read.
Kubukeli further argued that the party president was not above the party’s constitution and that no office - bearer should be permitted to be complainant, prosecutor, disciplinary authority and final arbiter in his own cause.
“If allegations exist against me, I am prepared to face them before a properly constituted and impartial disciplinary process, with full notice of the charges and a fair opportunity to respond. What I reject is the use of political authority to predetermine the outcome and then manufacture procedural legitimacy after the fact,” the statement concludes.
In a television interview, Litchfield - Tshabalala also denied being given reasons for her dismissal. She said she had learned that one alleged reason was a photograph she took with another expelled member, Zuma - Sambudla, and that she had been accused of plotting against party leaders.
In June, Zuma - Sambudla and Ndhlela were expelled after the party said its national officials had found that their actions, public statements and activities conflicted with the constitutional obligations of MK Party members and leaders, and had undermined organisational unity, discipline and cohesion.
The MK Party is expected to hold a media briefing on Friday, 28 August 2026, to address a range of issues.
willem.phungula@nationalmg.co.za