South Africa's uMkhonto weSizwe Party installed Des van Rooyen as parliamentary chief whip on Tuesday, removing Colleen Makhubele after five months in the role amid disputes over security clearance procedures. Van Rooyen becomes the third person to hold the position since the party captured 58 legislative seats during the 2024 elections and assumed official opposition status under founder Jacob Zuma.
Makhubele demanded retractions from media outlets that reported she failed intelligence committee background checks, calling the coverage false and defamatory while insisting no clearance application was ever filed. She previously led Johannesburg's municipal council before joining the political movement from the Economic Freedom Fighters. Party officials thanked her for her contributions while expressing confidence that van Rooyen's background would strengthen legislative operations.
The new chief whip spent three years as a liberation fighter from 1986 through 1989 and later earned graduate degrees in public development and economic policy from institutions abroad. President Zuma briefly appointed him finance minister in December 2015, though the assignment lasted only days and triggered financial market volatility. Van Rooyen departed the African National Congress to join the MK organization last year.
Makhubele demanded retractions from media outlets that reported she failed intelligence committee background checks, calling the coverage false and defamatory while insisting no clearance application was ever filed. She previously led Johannesburg's municipal council before joining the political movement from the Economic Freedom Fighters. Party officials thanked her for her contributions while expressing confidence that van Rooyen's background would strengthen legislative operations.
The new chief whip spent three years as a liberation fighter from 1986 through 1989 and later earned graduate degrees in public development and economic policy from institutions abroad. President Zuma briefly appointed him finance minister in December 2015, though the assignment lasted only days and triggered financial market volatility. Van Rooyen departed the African National Congress to join the MK organization last year.
