MK Party president Jacob Zuma has fired secretary-general Bongani Mncwango barely seven months after his appointment, in a move seen as a strategic realignment ahead of the 2026 local government elections. The MK Party announced a number of reconfigurations to its higher leadership echelons at a press briefing in uMhlanga, Durban on Thursday evening.
MK Party Restructuring
In August 2025, Mncwango, a former Sanlam executive, replaced Floyd Shivambu as the party’s seventh secretary-general since it was formed in December 2023. The new appointments include the new secretary general, advocate Sibonelo Nomvalo, who has been hailed even by his opponents for his sharp political work in Parliament, particularly in the ad hoc committee investigating the underworld infiltration of the criminal justice system, as outlined on the South African Parliament website.
The revival of the provincial secretary position is a departure from the task teams’ strategy of appointing coordinators and conveners in provinces. Simphiwe Mpungose has been appointed as the party’s provincial secretary, while Gobizizwe Makhanya has been appointed as the provincial organiser. Tholakele Dlamini, a qualified industrial psychologist and human resources developer, has been appointed to lead the party’s electoral strategy as the head of elections, replacing former DA mayor in Midvaal, Bongani Baloyi.
New Appointments and Roles
The MK Party has also announced the following key appointments:
- Advocate Sibonelo Nomvalo as the new secretary general
- Simphiwe Mpungose as the provincial secretary
- Gobizizwe Makhanya as the provincial organiser
- Tholakele Dlamini as the head of elections
According to the Electoral Commission of South Africa, the 2026 local government elections are expected to be highly contested, with several parties vying for control of key municipalities.
