Senior MK Party leader accused of asking for sexual favours

The MK Party is yet to comment on the accusations levelled against its deputy president, John Hlophe, by party member Mary Phadi.

UMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party deputy president and impeached judge John Hlophe allegedly asked the party’s former convenor in Mpumalanga Mary Phadi for sexual favours.

This is according to a letter dated 16 January 2025 written to party leader Jacob Zuma with Phadi’s signature that is circulating on social media.

MARY PHADI ACCUSED MK PARTY LEADER JOHN HLOPHE OF IMPROPER BEHAVIOUR

In November, the MK Party fired Phadi for alleged mismanagement of funds and hatching an assassination plot against her rival in the party. However, in December, the Mpumalanga High Court in Mbombela ruled in Phadi’s favour.

The court ordered Phadi to be reinstated as the convenor in the province and as a member of the Mpumalanga legislature and party leader in the legislature. Instead, the MK Party appointed former Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) member of Parliament Busisiwe Mkhwebane.

In the letter that Phadi allegedly wrote said she was being victimised through propaganda and false accusations.

“I would like to put it on record that these accusations have been escalating since the deputy president (John Hlophe) made sexual advances towards me that I did not appreciate. As a leader in uMkhonto weSizwe I take the issues of ethics and morality very seriously and with the mandate to serve and deliver to out people.

“As a woman I am being vilified and victimised since I refused to give into his attempts of spending the night with him as favours on 4 August 2024 he sent a text with effect on 22:54 on that day after we had a leadership meeting in Nelspruit. My refusal and unresponsiveness was the diplomatic drive to manage the situation [sic].”

Phadi further accused Hlophe of being behind the alleged propaganda against him as she refused to give in to his advances..

The South African has contacted MK Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela regarding the letter. This article will be updated once comment has been received.

SOURCE:Senior MK Party leader accused of asking for sexual favours