Johannesburg, – Members of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) parliamentary caucus have urged party president Jacob Zuma to launch a forensic investigation into R70 million that is alleged to have been siphoned from the party’s funds.
The request follows a closed‑door meeting of the caucus, where MPs demanded a full audit of money allocated for constituency offices. The funds, roughly R6.3 million per month for the party’s 58 MPs and five National Council of Provinces members, have not been accounted for, prompting accusations that the money may have been diverted to inflated salaries, travel, accommodation and security contracts.
Party treasurer‑general Mpiyakhe Limba insisted the MK party “has passed its parliamentary audits” and blamed a R28 million debt on former secretary‑general Floyd Shivambu. Shivambu, however, alleged that about R7 million a month is being siphoned by senior leaders close to Zuma, and that his attempts to stop it led to his removal from the secretariat.
The caucus’s plea for a forensic audit comes amid a broader internal power struggle. Chief of staff Vanessa Carlvet, suspended in July, denied any knowledge of missing funds and said she was targeted after resisting a R180 000‑a‑month service deal linked to chief whip Colleen Makhubele’s husband. Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela maintained the MK party “has passed audits” and dismissed the allegations as “unsubstantiated,” questioning why no formal complaint has been lodged.
If Zuma authorises the forensic probe, investigators will trace the flow of the R70 million and determine whether any criminal conduct occurred.
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