MK Party Deputy President Dr John Hlophe unleashed a thunderous critique of President Cyril Ramaphosa during a dramatic budget vote speech, labelling him “a president broken beyond repair” and delivering one of the most blistering attacks seen in Parliament this year.
With fiery rhetoric and uncompromising language, Hlophe accused Ramaphosa of hypocrisy, secrecy, and failing to deliver justice or reform. In a scathing reference to the Phala Phala scandal, he declared, “You hide dollars like a hustler stashing stolen goods under a mattress,” drawing gasps across the chamber and lighting up social media feeds in real time.
He described the Presidency as a “fortress of a conflicted and compromised president,” accusing it of shielding political allies while everyday South Africans battle crippling poverty, unemployment, and soaring living costs. Hlophe didn’t spare Parliament either, calling it “a poodle sitting at your feet begging for scraps of patronage,” suggesting that democratic institutions have been weakened under Ramaphosa’s leadership.
His speech concluded with the MK Party’s outright rejection of the Presidency’s budget and a firm vow to stand with “the oppressed, the forgotten, and the betrayed.” The address made clear that the MK Party is not just positioning itself as an opposition voice, but as a radical force challenging the very foundations of Ramaphosa’s administration.
The clash signals escalating political tensions, and with Hlophe’s sharp tongue and unfiltered delivery, it’s clear the MK Party plans to keep turning up the heat.
