MK Party changes its whips again: who's in, who's out

The MK Party has named five new whips in Parliament and removed four others, in changes that took effect on 12 October 2026. The appointments were recorded in Parliament's official record of work (News24).

The new whips are Emerald Kwenzokuhle Madlala, Sanele Gregory Mwali, Pinky Pearlgene Mngadi, Sihle Ngubane and Wesley Douglas. Visvin Reddy, David Skosana, Zelna Saira Abader and Siyabonga Gama are no longer whips (News24; The Citizen). The whips keep the official opposition's 58 MPs in line (News24).

Last updated: 21 October 2026, 17:33 SAST.

What else changed in the MK Party caucus?

A week before the new names surfaced, IOL reported on a memorandum from Chief Whip Philasande Mkhize restructuring the party's whippery (IOL). According to IOL, the memorandum:

• names Dr Mandlakayise Hlophe as party leader in the parliamentary whippery, with Mkhize staying on as Chief Whip
• appoints Wesley Douglas as Deputy Chief Whip and Sibongiseni Majola as NCOP Whip
• removes Adil Nchabeleng as Constituency Whip, and David Skosana and Pinky Mngadi as Elections Whips
• dissolves the Extended Whippery, also called the Political Governance Whippery
• places all party deployments, assignments and constituency work under the Office of the Chief Whip

The memorandum says the aim is to strengthen co-ordination, clarify responsibilities and improve how parliamentary and party work is managed (IOL). Mngadi's name appears in both reports: removed as an Elections Whip in the memorandum, and listed among the new whips in Parliament's record.

How many chief whips has the MK Party had?

Five since it became the official opposition after the 2024 elections (News24). In order:

1. Sihle Ngubane, removed in August 2024
2. Mzwanele Manyi
3. Colleen Makhubele. Former finance minister Des van Rooyen briefly replaced her in November 2025 after she fell out with parliamentary leader John Hlophe, but party president Jacob Zuma reinstated her
4. Mmabatho Mokoena-Zondi, appointed in February 2026 after Makhubele was removed
5. Philasande Mkhize, appointed in June 2026

Ngubane's return as a whip is the notable comeback in this round (The Citizen).

What has the party said?

Very little. Asked by News24 about the changes and the turnover among its MPs, Mkhize replied: "No comment, ma'am" (News24).

The churn is not limited to Parliament. The party, formed in December 2023, appointed Sibonele Nomvalo as its eighth secretary-general in March 2026 (News24; The Citizen).