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MK Party flag.
The Mpumalanga High Court sitting in Mbombela has rescinded the expulsion of the provincial convener of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party, Mary Phadi. The party expelled Phadi after she was accused of misappropriation of party funds.
The party claimed that Phadi failed to make a representation after the misappropriation of funds allegations were levelled against her. Phadi was requested to voluntarily resign from the party.
After she refused to resign MK Party national leadership terminated her membership.
Phadi led the organisation in this year’s general elections making it the official opposition in Mpumalanga.
There was jubilation after the court ruled in Mary Phadi’s favour as MK Party supporters came in their numbers to support the one they say is their rightful leader. Phadi was appointed six months ago to the position of provincial convener. She says proper processes were not followed in her expulsion.
“The correct internal processes that were supposed to be followed is that I was supposed to receive a letter that I am no longer the convener. Same with my predecessor … he received a letter, and I was appointed. In this case, they just parachuted someone without following the proper process. We were supposed to do the handover, we didn’t do it,” says Phadi.
MKP supporters say they want Phadi to lead them in the province.
“I am very happy that our convener is reinstated in her positions in the province. This means it was predestined that today, as we celebrate her birthday, this is a gift,” says one of the supporter.
“We are so excited because we felt that the treatment that was given to our leader was unfair because she has been with us from the beginning. Imagine having to run elections at a R0 budget. So, she’s been with us and assisted us. We are where we are today as a province, we are the official opposition, it’s because of her encouragement and her support. We are here to support, and we are very happy the order favoured us,” says another MKP support in Mpumalanga.
Phadi says she is ready to hit the ground running.
“We are excited that we managed to get the order in place, I’m going back to work tomorro. I have been reinstated as the convener of the province as stated according to the order, and I am also going to be the party leader representing the uMkhonto weSizwe in the legislature,” she says.
Meanwhile, in a statement, the MK Party had barred its members from attending today’s court proceedings. The party was unavailable for a comment.
Video: Court rules that expelled MK Party Mpumalanga convenor Mary Phadi be reinstated
