THE uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) is facing internal strife in its South Coast region, characterised by factionalism and infighting.
Former KwaZulu-Natal government director-general Nhlanhla Ngidi, who recently resigned from his position as provincial co-ordinator, highlighted the severity of the issue, saying his life had been threatened.
Ngidi recounted an incident during his visit to the region in March where he was physically threatened by members of a faction who were dissatisfied with his appointment as an interim convener and co-ordinator.
The situation escalated to the point where Ngidi's armed bodyguard had to intervene to protect him from potential harm.
“I felt very threatened, and still today I always wonder what stopped them from beating me up because they were quite violent and kicking the chairs,” said Ngidi.
The internal conflicts within the party were further exposed during a recent visit by MKP national co-ordinator Floyd Shivambu and secretary-general Sifiso Maseko, who were in the region to drum up support for Wednesday’s by-election.
An MKP activist, Bongani Maqethuka Gcaba, expressed his opposition to the regional interim co-ordinator, Lungani Hlongwa, and demanded his removal.
“As of today, we don’t need Hlongwa in the Lower South Coast regardless of whatever,” Gcaba told Shivambu.
Gcaba and his group have reportedly appealed to party leader Jacob Zuma to intervene in the matter.
He acknowledged the incident involving Ngidi and said, “Even after we had made it clear that we didn’t want Hlongwa as the co-ordinator, Ngidi appointed him.”
Hlongwa said Gcaba’s group did not want to be led but they wanted to lead at all cost.
Hlongwa’s spokesperson Lastborne Shandu said the tension was worsened by the MKP entering Parliament.
“Since MKP is now registered in Parliament, the party now has an income and they want Hlongwa removed since co-ordinators would now have to be paid,” Shandu said.
Ngidi said while other regions had experienced divisions, factionalism on the South Coast deep.
“This has been happening in a few regions but in Lower South Coast it is worse because the divisions are too deep.
“I am no longer an politician and I am just a private individual but I still believe that if MK could correct certain things. It is espousing the right policies for the country.
“There are operational matters that they need to address,” he said.
Ngidi said such matters would include holding elective conferences as without democratically elected structures the party was solely led by the national office.
“People who are not permanent don’t have executive powers and there is nothing they can do to deal with issues,” he said.
Ngidi said the physical attack he faced was not the reason why he left the party.
“There are a number of issues, including me being sidelined from the legislature, that made me decide to distance myself from MK,” he said.
He said revealing other issues would make him seem bitter.
When Zuma approached him to join the party, he had no interest in becoming a politician.
MKP provincial spokesperson Vincent Mdunge said the party was working on reconciling rivals.
“We have visited the region and discovered that the situation was not that bad.
“The problem is that we had appointed certain people for campaign purposes and others decided not to vote.
“We have a conflict resolution committee that is dealing with such issues,” said Mdunge.