‘We are taking this matter seriously’ – MK Party on sexual allegations against John Hlophe

Cape Town — The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has addressed allegations of sexual misconduct made by its former Mpumalanga convenor, Mary Phadi, against the party’s deputy president, John Hlophe.

“I would like to put it on record that these accusations have been escalating since the Deputy President (Comrade John Hlophe) made sexual advances towards me that I did not appreciate,” she said.

In an interview with Newzroom Afrika, MK spokesperson, Nhlamulo Ndhlela, said Phadi was not an innocent person in this matter, as she has had a history of wielding guns and intimidating people during party meetings, which ultimately led to her arrest for allegedly plotting an assassination.

Ndhlela said Hlophe was among a team of party delegates who were sent to Mpumalanga to deal with the party’s internal issues and dynamics relating to Phadi.

In addressing the allegations against Hlophe, Ndhlela said the party would deal with the issue and allegations made by Phadi.

“This is a sensitive matter and the MK leadership takes such matters very seriously. It is sensitive in terms of the challenges we face as a society from a GBV perspective, but also sensitive politically as this is the Deputy President,” he said.

Ndhlela said he has not seen the letter sent by Phadi but if that is the case, the party would take it seriously.

“Going back to the seriousness of the matter, we take this matter very seriously and we will look into it,” he said.

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Compiled by Matthew Petersen