JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — Former President Thabo Mbeki has sent shockwaves through the South African political landscape, claiming that remnants of apartheid-era intelligence and security forces were the “architects” behind the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party’s meteoric success in the 2024 elections.
Speaking at a high-level engagement on Saturday, January 24, 2026, Mbeki suggested that the rise of the MK Party was not a natural political movement, but a calculated “counter-revolutionary” project designed to destabilize the African National Congress (ANC) and the democratic state.
The “Counter-Revolutionary” Theory
Mbeki, known for his analytical and often controversial “State of the Nation” critiques, argued that the MK Party—led by former President Jacob Zuma—served as a vehicle for forces that never accepted the 1994 democratic transition.
- Intelligence Infiltration: Mbeki claimed that “operatives from the old order” utilized their expertise in psychological warfare and grassroots mobilization to funnel resources and strategy into the MK Party.
- The Goal of Destabilization: According to Mbeki, the intent was to fracture the ANC’s support base, thereby forcing the party into a weakened coalition (the GNU) where its transformative agenda would be neutralized.
- “Not a Guess”: The former statesman insisted his claims were backed by an understanding of “continued patterns of interference” that have plagued the state’s security apparatus for decades.
The MK Party Fires Back
The MK Party has wasted no time in dismissing Mbeki’s claims as the “ramblings of a bitter man.”
In a late-night statement, the party’s spokesperson accused Mbeki of trying to delegitimize the will of millions of South Africans who voted for the MK Party out of frustration with the ANC’s “failed” neoliberal policies. “To suggest that our voters are puppets of apartheid forces is an insult to the intelligence of the black majority,” the statement read.
South Africa Reacts: A Divided Nation
The claims have sparked a fierce debate across the political spectrum:
- The ANC: While some within the ANC NEC Lekgotla have quietly supported Mbeki’s “security threat” narrative, others fear that such inflammatory claims further alienate former ANC supporters who have moved to the MK Party.
- Political Analysts: Experts suggest that while “Third Force” theories have historical precedent in SA, Mbeki’s latest intervention may be an attempt to provide a “convenient excuse” for the ANC’s electoral decline rather than addressing internal governance failures.
Why Now?
Mbeki’s remarks come at a critical time as the Government of National Unity (GNU) faces internal friction and as the ANC begins to grapple with the “2027 Elective Conference” warnings issued by Fikile Mbalula. By framing the MK Party as an existential threat to the revolution, Mbeki is effectively calling for a “closing of ranks” within the traditional liberation movement.
