The Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party made a swift U‑turn on Thursday, nullifying the appointment of former finance minister Des Van Rooyen as its parliamentary chief whip and suspending its deputy president, Dr John Hlophe, for acting without the party’s collective approval. In a statement released early Thursday morning, the party said Hlophe’s unilateral move to remove the incumbent chief whip, Colleen Makhubele, and install Van Rooyen was “nullified” because it violated the principle of collective leadership enshrined in the party constitution. “The decision taken by Dr Hlophe to remove Cde Collen Makhubele and appoint Cde Des Van Rooyen is therefore nullified,” the party declared.
