Western Cape High Court Orders MK Party To Reinstate Two Expelled MPs
The Western Cape High Court has ordered the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party to reinstate Pumlani Kubukeli and Dr Khanyisile Litchfield-Tshabalala after setting aside their expulsion from the party.
The judgment, delivered today, Friday, restores the pair’s membership and their status as Members of Parliament in the National Assembly.
The two MPs were expelled by the MK Party on 27 August 2026. The party said their conduct had been detrimental to its good name, reputation, integrity and interests, and had undermined organisational unity and discipline.
The party said the decision was taken under Section 7(2)(h) of its constitution, which it interpreted as giving party president Jacob Zuma executive authority to remove members or deployees in the interests of the organisation. It subsequently wrote to National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza to begin the process of removing the two from Parliament.
Kubukeli and Litchfield-Tshabalala challenged the expulsions in court, arguing that they had not been given proper reasons for their removal or an opportunity to make representations. Their case also challenged the interpretation of Section 7(2)(h) and Zuma’s authority to remove them without a disciplinary hearing.
Litchfield-Tshabalala had publicly said she was not informed of the reasons for her expulsion, while Kubukeli had previously raised allegations of financial irregularities involving the party.
The ruling means the two return to the positions they held before their expulsions.
The judgment comes on the same day that the Electoral Court dismissed a separate MK Party challenge to the outcome of the 2024 national and provincial elections.
