News24 | Des van Rooyen: Weekend special. ‘Gupta minister’. And now, leader of the opposition

Des “Weekend Special” van Rooyen has been appointed as the MKP’s parliamentary caucus leader.

• Des van Rooyen was appointed the MK Party’s parliamentary caucus leader, replacing suspended John Hlophe.
• “His Excellency” Jacob Zuma emphasised that no parliamentary changes would occur without his approval, aiming for unity and strategic direction in the party.
• The MK Party’s leadership has been in perpetual upheaval after emerging as the third-largest party and official opposition after last year’s elections.

MK Party MP Des van Rooyen has been appointed as the official opposition’s parliamentary caucus leader, replacing John Hlophe, who was suspended for promoting none other than Van Rooyen to chief whip without party leader Jacob Zuma’s approval.

According to a statement from party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela on Friday, “His Excellency President Jacob Zuma” and the party’s national leadership convened a meeting with the MK Party parliamentary caucus.

Last week, Hlophe – then the parliamentary leader – replaced Colleen Makhubela with Van Rooyen as the party’s chief whip. Van Rooyen’s tenure in this position was even shorter than his stint as finance minister in 2015, which earned him the nickname Weekend Special. The very next day, Zuma returned from Burkina Faso and reversed Hlophe’s decision.

During his meeting with the caucus, Zuma reiterated the provisional suspension of Hlophe as parliamentary leader and deputy leader of the party, “pending the speedy outcome of a formal enquiry”.

A “duly appointed legal team” will preside over the process and will be expected to present a report to “H.E. The President” – Zuma – and the national officials.

Hlophe remains a member of the party and of Parliament.

READ | Zuma vs Hlophe: Rogue moves and ‘misunderstanding’ leave MKP caucus leaderless

Makhubela, under whose watch the party voted incorrectly on the Appropriation Bill, remains the chief whip.

“The president has made it unequivocally clear that no decision or changes relating to the parliamentary caucus, its leadership, or its operations, shall be made without his consultation and that of the national officials. This has been essential for safeguarding unity, accountability and the strategic direction of the movement,” said Ndhlela.

READ | Hlophe confirms Nhlamulo Ndhlela’s removal from parliamentary whippery

The MK Party’s leadership, in Parliament and in the party’s top structure, has resembled a game of musical chairs since last year’s election, in which the party performed exceptionally well for a newcomer to displace the EFF as the third largest party.

With the DA joining the governing coalition, the MK Party is the official opposition. This means that Van Rooyen, heavily implicated in state capture by the Zondo Commission to the extent that he has been called a “Gupta Minister”, will hold the title of leader of the opposition – a position of such import that is recognised in the Constitution and earns a higher salary than an ordinary MP.