The MK Party ghosts Shivambu just couldn't shake off

Molefe's appointment stirred up a hornet's nest

- By Setumo Stone, Bongani Mdakane, Queenin Masuabi and Mawande AmaShabalala

Rebellious rank and file of MK Party breathed down the neck of its leadership to investigate possible nepotism against its then secreterary-general Floyd Shivambu following the appointment of the lover of his younger brother to the party's finance department.

Kelebogile Molefe - the lover of Floyd's younger brother Brian - was appointed to a plum finance post of the MKP in its headquarters in Joburg. Then, in the absence of an appointed treasurer-general, Shivambu acted in the position.

The Sunday World understands that just before Shivambu's abrupt exit in June, MKP insiders were calling for a probe, claiming nepotism and political favouritism tainted the appointment and gave Shivambu de facto control of the party's purse.

The aggrieved members were then lobbying party president Jacob Zuma to establish a committee to investigate the appointment of Molefe to the job.

"We wanted the party to check whether or not she qualifies for the job and whether the post was advertised to give other party members an equal opportunity to contest for it. This would have cleared Floyd of any suspicion that Molefe enjoyed an added advantage over other party members because of her close proximity to Floyd," said the party member who spoke to us anonymously.

According to public records, Molefe holds a BTech in Finance and Accounting (Public) from the Tshwane University of Technology.

Another MKP member said the general feeling in the party then was that the investigation would clear Shivambu, President of Mayibuye iAfrika, of any possible misconduct and improve confidence in ethical governance in the party. "The perception that she was unduly preferred over other candidates can, if not addressed, only harm the reputation of the party. It doesn't matter even if she is a volunteer who doesn't get a stipend."