The removal of musician Papa Penny from parliament has left MKP affiliated uMkhonto weSizwe Creatives (MKC) crying foul.
Image: Independent Media archives
The sacking of popular musician Papa Penny from parliament by the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) last month left his fellow artists, who are members of the party, crying foul saying they are being treated as stepchildren.
The artists, members of the MKP’s affiliate uMkhonto weSizwe Creatives (MKC), said their mother body is isolating them, something indicating widening division within former president Jacob Zuma-led party ahead of the local government elections.
MKC deputy president Lindani Maphumulo believed that Gezane Eric Kobane, popularly known as Papa Penny, deserved his previous position on parliament’s Sport, Arts, and Culture Portfolio Committee under the MKP banner.
He said the MKP was established to differentiate itself from other parties by placing people from the grassroots in senior positions.
“When they remove Papa Penny and bring in people who don’t deserve it, then it changes the whole idea.
“That is why Papa Penny ended up saying ‘let me go to Mayibuye’, and remember that a lot of people have been resigning because whatever was promised initially by MKP in terms of uniqueness is no longer happening,” said Maphumulo.
MKP spokesperson Sifiso Mahlangu said MKP structures are free to engage with the leadership through various means, but not the media.
“The leadership is greatly accessible, if concerns are brought to the attention of the party, the organisation will respond accordingly.
“MKP is not built by any single person or group, it is the continued effort of all our members and leaders, regardless of when they joined the organisation.
“We encourage our members to explore internal processes and dialogue before engaging the press,” Mahlangu said.
Papa Penny, a Tsonga musician, joined the Afrika Mayibuye Movement, led by MKP secretary General Floyd Shivambu, in May after resigning from the MKP.
It has been reported that Papa Penny cited internal attacks, vilification and reputational damage allegedly caused by the party’s Limpopo provincial leaders in his resignation letter to Zuma.
The MKC was formed in 2024 as the brainchild of popular Siyabonga Nene, known as Big Zulu in the music industry, who has since stepped aside due to international commitment.
“All MKP secretary-generals do not want to consider MKC as part and parcel of the MKP and there is not even a budget for hosting events,” said Maphumulo.
Maphumulo said he had spent years campaigning for the MKP on social media.
He was recruited to the MKC as a social media personality through his campaigning for MKP.
“I remained there until I became the deputy president, but MKP does not want to endorse us like they endorsed the women’s league, young league and people with disabilities.
“They are always neglecting us and I think the reason is that they feel that we are a threat to them,” said Maphumulo.
He said MKC’s founding president Thulile Gambushe left the MKP after realising the inferiority treatment given to the MKC.
He said the MKP was formed with an impression that it was going to be different from other parties by giving people from different sectors of life such as traditional leaders and people with disability opportunities.
“MKC came into the MKP to align itself with that unique embodiment of the MKP.
“Remember when Zuma campaigned to promote MKP, he said they were not looking for people who have political credentials, but were looking for people who worked on the ground to fill in the portfolios.
“But that never happened, instead it (MKP) brought in people from outside such as Nathi Nhleko, Brian Molefe and other people to be given positions even in parliament,” said Maphumulo.
Maphumulo said MKC was still prepared to campaign for the MKP to win the upcoming local government elections.
“We would like to campaign because this is our vision, but we are being gatekept by certain people in the MKP because they feel that we are a threat.
“We are running at a zero budget, we cannot do anything,” said Maphulumo.
He said the MKC has launched provincial structures in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, and North West, and was currently working on expanding to Limpopo, Eastern Cape and Western Cape.
In December, the league attacked KwaZulu-Natal parliament Speaker Nontembeko Boyce accusing her of taking sides in the MKP-sponsored motion of no confidence against Premier Thami Ntuli-led cabinet.