The Umkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) has announced the appointments of Dr Thanti Mthanti as treasurer general and Nhlamulo Ndhlela as the party’s national spokesperson, effective immediately.
These changes were made by the party’s leader and president, Jacob Zuma, in consultation with the National High Command (NHC) on Friday.
Mthanti is a senior lecturer at the University of Cape Town (UCT), where he specialises in finance. He holds a Ph.D. in Finance from Wits University and is one of a select few Professional Risk Manager (PRM) charterholders in South Africa.
The PRM designation is a globally recognised, graduate-level credential in mathematical finance and risk management. It is endorsed by prestigious university programs, including those at Columbia University Business School and the National University of Singapore.
Menzi Magubane previously served as treasurer general, while Ndhlela succeeds in joining the Top 8 leadership structure and the NHC full-time in his new role.
According to Magasela Mzobe, head of presidency for the MKP, these appointments aim to bolster the party's leadership and strategic direction.
Mzobe aslo noted that Mthanti has served the organisation diligently, executing different tasks since the inception of the organisation, and previously chaired the NHC’s communications sub-committee.
“As treasurer general, he will now assume full responsibilities as prescribed by the party's constitution,” said Mzobe.
Ndlela’s appointment as national spokesperson reflects, according to Zuma, the need to “further strengthen the communications machinery of the party and shape its strategic direction”.
Mzobe emphasised the president’s confidence in Ndhlela, noting, “The president has confidence in Commander Ndlela to continue to execute his responsibilities with the astuteness he continually demonstrates.”
Zuma also thanked Menzi Ngubane for his service and congratulated the new appointees, expressing his best wishes for their success.
In related leadership changes, Zuma last week appointed Joe Ndhlela, a convicted fraudster, as the party’s national organiser, a position previously held by Floyd Shivambu. Shivambu has since taken up the role of secretary-general for the MKP.
In a statement, Mzobe said in consultation with the national high command (the party’s highest decision making body), Zuma appointed Ndhlela as the national organiser with immediate effect.
Moreover, Mzobe said Joe Ndhlela joined the MKP on December 16 last year as a volunteer and was instrumental in developing the national strategic framework and the training manual for party agents.
“As of April 2024, he was serving in the capacity of chief operations officer for the MKP,” Mzobe said.
IOL Politics