The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the KwaZulu-Natal legislature has accused Members of the Provincial Legislature (MPLs) from the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) of serious unethical conduct, racism, and fraud. These allegations, made by the DA, encompass a range of issues from personal remarks to financial impropriety. DA’s legislature Chief Whip Imran Keeka made these allegations during a full sitting of the House on Tuesday, bringing to light several incidents that he claims illustrate a pattern of misconduct by MKP members. Keeka stated that MKP members told him to "go back to Pakistan" during the Health Budget Debate last Friday, noting what he perceived as racially charged comments. He further added that during the Public Works Budget Debate, MKP MPL Bongumusa Mkhize allegedly declared that "once the MKP was done with African foreigners, white South Africans would be next," a remark that the DA has categorized as racist.
Keeka also accused MKP MPLs of fraudulent travel claims, stating, "It cannot be that a member travels from eThekwini to Pietermaritzburg and claims for the same distance that I travel from Newcastle." He asserted that such matters divert funding from the legislature’s core oversight duty, undermining its effectiveness and public trust. Keeka criticized the MKP's conduct, saying, "Lies and insults have become their substitutes for research," suggesting a lack of substance in their legislative contributions. He concluded his address with a provocative statement, "I actually abused the privilege of the house podium to highlight how corrupt these people are, but I cannot under any circumstances release the names." This statement, while controversial, showed the gravity with which Keeka views the alleged transgressions, even as he withheld specific identities.
Specific Allegations Detailed
Imran Keeka, the DA's legislature Chief Whip, detailed several specific allegations against MKP MPLs, painting a picture of systemic issues. He claimed one MKP MPL applied for a state-paid chauffeur by using a falsified doctor’s report, which indicated poor eyesight and painful ankles. This particular allegation points to an attempt to misuse public resources through deceptive means. Keeka also alleged that another MKP MPL manipulated mileage allowance claims, submitting an exaggerated travel distance for trips from Durban to Pietermaritzburg, suggesting financial misconduct. During the Health Budget Debate, Keeka stated that MKP members told him to "go back to Pakistan," an incident he cited as evidence of racist behavior within the legislature. He reported that during the Public Works Budget Debate, Bongumusa Mkhize, another MKP MPL, said that "once the MKP was done with African foreigners, white South Africans would be next," further cementing the DA's claims of racist remarks being made by MKP members.
Beyond these claims, other incidents involving MKP members were noted, contributing to the broader narrative of problematic conduct. Mervyn Dirks, an MKP MPL, shared a video depicting a boat on what appeared to be a sewage-infested river, stating it was part of the Umngeni River under the uMngeni Municipality. Dirks commented on the video, asserting, "With the issue of where they dump sewer in his municipality, he cannot now say water and sanitation is under the district municipality because that crime was committed in his municipality." He continued, "Therefore, the uMngeni must be held equally responsible for the raw sewer that has been dumped into the uMngeni River because there is no way that the raw sewer gets dumped into the river that is in your municipality and you sit back and it is the responsibility of the district municipality." These comments were part of his accusation that uMngeni Mayor Chris Pappas was misleading Parliament.
UMngeni Mayor Chris Pappas responded to Dirks's claims, stating that water and sanitation do not fall under his municipality's purview, clarifying the division of responsibilities. Pappas clarified, "Blaming uMngeni Municipality for water and sanitation-related issues is like blaming uMngeni Municipality for overcrowded prisons or potholes on the N3," drawing an analogy to illustrate the misattribution of responsibility. He added that "The uMngeni Municipality has raised issues of sewage leaks and industrial pollution for years," indicating that the municipality had been proactive in flagging these concerns, despite not having direct control over water and sanitation services. Separately, during an altercation, it was reported that some MPLs physically pushed Speaker Nontembeko Boyce while hurling insults at her, an incident that raised serious concerns about decorum and respect within the provincial legislature. An MKP MPL stated that Speaker Nontembeko Boyce was not assaulted during this incident, offering a counter-narrative to the reported physical confrontation.
Context and Counterclaims
The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) constituency offices reportedly receive more than R5 million as a research allowance, a significant sum intended to support their legislative work. MKP caucus spokesperson Siphiwe Mbatha-Moyo, however, asserted that Imran Keeka lacked evidence to support his allegations, casting doubt on the veracity of the DA's claims. Mbatha-Moyo stated, "The MK Party is aware of allegations arising from the sitting of 15 December 2025, but the caucus has not been presented with any conclusive and independently verified finding establishing that a particular MK Party MPL assaulted Speaker Nontembeko Boyce." This statement directly challenged the narrative surrounding the alleged assault on the Speaker.
Mbatha-Moyo further questioned the source of Keeka's information, particularly regarding the alleged falsified doctor's report and exaggerated travel claims, implying a breach of privacy or unauthorized access to sensitive data. "Dr Keeka must explain how he obtained this information, whether he was authorised to access it and why he believed it is appropriate to discuss another member’s medical circumstances publicly," Mbatha-Moyo said, adding that "A medical qualification should produce greater respect for confidentiality, not provide material for political gossip." This pointed critique suggested that Keeka, despite his professional background, had acted unethically in disclosing private medical information. Regarding the travel claims, Mbatha-Moyo challenged Keeka's access to personal data, stating, "If Dr Keeka possesses detailed information regarding the residences of MK Party members, he must explain how that information was obtained, whether he was authorised to access it, and for what legitimate legislative purpose it was used." This line of questioning aimed to undermine the credibility of Keeka's evidence by scrutinizing its acquisition.
The MKP spokesperson also clarified the remarks attributed to Musa Mkhize concerning immigrants, seeking to reframe the controversial statement. Mbatha-Moyo stated, "No MK Party MPL called for white South African citizens to be chased out of the country, but Musa Mkhize was clear that once illegal African immigrants have been dealt with, the same immigration laws must also be applied to illegal white immigrants." Mbatha-Moyo emphasized the principle of consistent application of law, explaining, "Illegal immigration does not become lawful merely because an undocumented person is white. South African immigration law must apply consistently to every undocumented foreign national, irrespective of race, colour, nationality, or continent of origin." This clarification sought to position Mkhize's comments as a call for equitable enforcement of immigration laws rather than outright racism.
Legislature's Oversight and Funding
Imran Keeka further accused MKP MPL Mervyn Dirks of misleading Parliament concerning sewage-polluted water flowing into the uMngeni River, an accusation that notes ongoing environmental concerns and political finger-pointing. Dirks had stated, "With the issue of where they dump sewer in his municipality, he cannot now say water and sanitation is under the district municipality because that crime was committed in his municipality." Dirks continued, "Therefore, the uMngeni must be held equally responsible for the raw sewer that has been dumped into the uMngeni River because there is no way that the raw sewer gets dumped into the river that is in your municipality and you sit back and it is the responsibility of the district municipality." These remarks show the contentious nature of inter-municipal responsibilities regarding critical infrastructure and public health. Keeka's accusation suggests that Dirks's statements were factually incorrect and served to misdirect blame.
Separately, Keeka noted an instance where a member allegedly applied for a state-paid chauffeur using a falsified doctor’s report, which claimed poor eyesight and painful ankles. This claim, if proven true, would represent a blatant misuse of public funds and a breach of ethical conduct. However, an independent assessment conducted by legislature doctors subsequently found the member had 20/20 vision and required only Panado for their ankles, directly contradicting the initial medical claims. This independent verification by legislature doctors provided a key counterpoint to the alleged falsified report, lending weight to Keeka's assertions of fraud. These allegations contribute to the DA's broader claims of unethical conduct and fraud against MKP MPLs, painting a picture of a legislature grappling with serious issues of integrity and accountability. The ongoing dispute between the DA and the MKP within the KwaZulu-Natal legislature reflects deeper tensions and challenges regarding governance and ethical standards in provincial politics.
