Patriotic Alliance in Turmoil as Key Members Resign in Protest of Bonginkosi Khanyile's Expulsion

The political landscape within KwaZulu-Natal's Patriotic Alliance (PA) is facing significant strain as two key figures, the regional treasurer of UMgungundlovu and the ward chair of Ward 31 in eThekwini, have stepped down from their positions. These departures signal a growing rift within the party following the controversial dismissal of Bonginkosi Khanyile, the PA's former candidate for premier.

The fallout began with Msawenkosi Mzolo, the disillusioned chair of Ward 31, who penned a resignation letter dated January 11, 2024. Mzolo expressed profound disappointment with the party's leadership, especially concerning the treatment of Khanyile. Labeling the decision to expel Khanyile as "unfair" and "unwarranted," Mzolo underscored his belief in fundamental political values like fairness and justice, values he felt were compromised by the PA leadership. Mzolo's abrupt departure reflects a moral stance against what he perceives as the organization's deviation from due process and impartiality.

Added to this sentiment, on January 6, 2024, the regional treasurer from UMgungundlovu, whose letter alludes to a similar grievance regarding the party's decision-making process, followed suit. The treasurer, Mjwara, revealed that the punitive measures against Khanyile, as dictated by the party's higher echelons, were disproportionately severe and lacked procedural justice. This sentiment again throws the spotlight on the PA's internal governance and disciplinary strategies, eliciting concerns about leadership direction and strategy.

The controversy began with Khanyile's involvement in a political gathering hosted by Umkhonto weSizwe (MK), where former ANC President Jacob Zuma publicly endorsed Khanyile and predicted his future campaign efforts for the MK party. Despite Khanyile's assertion that his attendance was personal and not indicative of a shift in political allegiance, the incident caused a stir across social media platforms, casting speculation about his loyalty to the PA.

The party initially accepted an apology from Khanyile, but succumbed to public pressure and the perceived risk to the party's reputation, leading to his expulsion. This swift flip-flop by the PA leadership has sparked a debate about the integrity and stability of the party's decision-making process.

The PA's deputy secretary-general, Meshé Habana, defended the ultimate decision to expel Khanyile, stating that the party had to act decisively to maintain its image and to quash any narratives that the PA was affiliated with MK or other political entities. Despite this, the two high-profile resignations point to a broader issue of discontent among the ranks, indicating that Khanyile's expulsion may have been the tipping point in long-brewing internal tensions.

This is not the first time the party has faced internal challenges; seven months prior, Rocky Clark, then-chair of the party, vacated his position to focus on his own business ventures. These events hint at a pattern of instability within the PA and raise questions about the political future of the party in the region.

As the PA continues to navigate through this period of controversy and internal discontent, efforts to obtain a statement on the recent resignations went unanswered. The absence of a response from the party exacerbates concerns about the PA's transparency and responsiveness to both internal and external stakeholders.

The current upheaval reveals a delicate balance between loyalty, values, and political maneuvering within party ranks. The PA's leadership is now confronted with the challenge of reaffirming its commitment to principle-based politics while striving to maintain unity and forward momentum.