In a significant political development, former African National Congress (ANC) chief whip Tony Yengeni has officially joined the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party and has been appointed to the newly created position of Second Deputy President.
The announcement was made by MK Party leader Jacob Zuma during a media briefing in Durban on Thursday. The move ends weeks of speculation regarding Yengeni’s departure from the ANC, the party he has been associated with for decades.
Zuma introduced Yengeni as a dedicated cadre, stating, “We have decided to have one of our cadres who have been with [us] for years… that comrade of ours who’s going to join us at the leadership, the top leadership, is Tony.”
Praising Yengeni’s history, Zuma recounted, “Tony Yengeni is a cadre of many years. He’s a cadre who took a decision to leave the country as a young man to go and prepare himself to fight to free the black South Africans in South Africa. Indeed, he did everything that was supposed to be done… and he has remained a very solid leader.”
Zuma clarified that the party’s first deputy president, Dr. John Hlophe, will remain in his position but will now focus his efforts on the party’s parliamentary work. Zuma indicated that Yengeni’s appointment is intended to strengthen the party’s leadership and advance its political agenda.
Political analyst Professor Dirk Kotze, providing analysis following the announcement, highlighted the strategic nature of the appointment. He pointed to Yengeni’s extensive experience as a former ANC chief whip, noting his deep understanding of parliamentary processes and traditions.
“One of the reasons why he is so much important in this respect is the fact that the first deputy president, Dr. Hlophe, is a former judge and therefore does not have that type of parliamentary experience,” Professor Kotze said.
He added that the MK Party has demonstrated weaknesses in its parliamentary effectiveness since entering the legislature. “So MK does not play the role yet of a very effective opposition, and they know that,” Kotze stated, suggesting that Yengeni’s role will be crucial in bolstering the party’s performance in Parliament.
Professor Kotze also noted that Yengeni’s high profile could help the MK Party establish a stronger presence in the Western Cape, a province where the party has previously been weak, ahead of next year’s local government elections.
Regarding the impact on the ANC, Professor Kotze characterized Yengeni’s move as part of a continuing trend. He described Yengeni as a figure historically closely associated with Zuma and his supporters, and one who has been consistently critical of the current ANC leadership.
“The fact that he is moving out of the ANC is in a sense following a trend that has already started of those who were part of the faction… the Zuma supporters in general, that they have gradually started to leave the ANC and migrated towards MK,” Kotze explained.
Yengeni, who once represented Zuma during an ANC disciplinary hearing, now assumes a top leadership role in a party that is increasingly positioning itself as a formidable political contender.