Zuma and Hlophe at loggerheads following DP's axing

UMKHONTO weSizwe (MK) Party leader Jacob Zuma is under scrutiny following his public fallout with his deputy Dr John Hlophe.

- WILLEM PHUNGULA

On Wednesday night, the MKP suspended Hlophe for removing the party's parliament chief whip Colleen Makhubele. Hlophe had, according to the MKP, unilaterally removed Makhubele without consultation with the party or Zuma and replaced her with Des van Rooyen. Zuma, who was out of the country when Makhubele was removed, then reversed Hlophe's decision and issued him with a precautionary suspension.

On Wednesday it was reported that Makhubele had been removed after she allegedly attempted to secure an MK service provider contract worth more than R180 000 per month for a company in which her husband is a director.

It was also claimed that she failed a parliamentary vetting process for the Intelligence Portfolio Committee.

However, Hlophe reportedly defied the suspension and dared Zuma to fire him instead of suspending him.