In a fiery and symbolic act of defiance, Mary Phadi publicly burned a copy of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party constitution after losing a crucial court battle that stripped her of both membership and leadership in the Mpumalanga Legislature.
The court’s ruling, delivered earlier today, confirmed that Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane is the sole legitimate convenor of the MK Party in Mpumalanga—dealing a major blow to Phadi’s political standing within the controversial and faction-ridden party.
Moments after the judgment, Phadi set fire to the party’s founding document in protest, an act that laid bare her frustration with what she sees as a deeply flawed and exclusionary leadership process. The dramatic gesture underscores mounting tensions and infighting within the MK Party, which continues to be rocked by power struggles and legal challenges even after recent electoral gains.
Phadi’s exit and fiery farewell raise serious questions about unity and stability within the party as it attempts to solidify its identity on the national stage.
