AXED uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party secretary-general Sibonelo Nomvalo has finally spoken out.
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This has lifted the lid on what he claims were “repeated attempts” to push him out of the party’s top leadership position.
Nomvalo addressed the media in Durban, KZN on Friday, 30 October, where he gave his side of the story, detailing a series of allegations he claimed were levelled against him “through intelligence reports” submitted to party founder and president Jacob Zuma.
The former SG said his removal didn’t catch him off-guard. He claimed there had been several attempts to get rid of him - long before the decision was officially announced.
MK party spokesman Sifiso Mahlangu previously confirmed that Nomvalo had been relieved of his duties.
This following concerns involving the councillor selection process, internal factionalism, alleged dual remuneration, delays in campaign materials, and changes within the parliamentary caucus and administration.
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Mahlangu said some of the parliamentary changes had reportedly not been communicated to Zuma.
ANC spy accusations
Nomvalo claimed one of the intelligence reports accused him of working as a spy for the ANC.
He said he took it upon himself to gather evidence, including bank statements and logbooks, to disprove the allegations.
“Out of my own volition, I collected all the necessary evidence, including bank statements and logbooks, to dismiss these allegations.
“I requested a meeting with president Zuma, deputy president Yengeni and comrade Willies Mchunu in which I tendered evidence, and we discussed the matter at length,” he said.
Another report allegedly accused him of plotting with former MK party secretary-general Floyd Shivambu to remove Zuma as president during the party’s policy conference.
Nomvalo said the allegations resulted in the cancellation of the conference.
“As a consequence of this, the policy conference was cancelled. I want to place it on record that I only interacted once with [Floyd] Shivambu. It was during his term of office as SG of the MK party,” he said.
Cows and R20 million hotel bill
The former SG also addressed allegations that he had stolen money from the party to buy cattle.
“Attached to this report was my Facebook picture posted in 2024 where I’m standing in my kraal. The interpretation to the president is that it’s a new picture and all, and all cows appearing on the picture were bought with money I stole from the MK party,” he said.
Nomvalo maintained he had bought the cattle in 2023 while practising as an attorney.
He further dismissed claims that he and former Eskom boss Brian Molefe had paid more than R20 million to Birchwood Hotel to host the party’s policy conference.
“We brought all documents, including bank statements and the contract with Birchwood Hotel, to dismiss these allegations,” he said.
Another intelligence report allegedly labelled him an agent of ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa.
Nomvalo denied having any relationship with Ramaphosa, saying their interactions had been limited to Parliament.
“I don’t even recall having a direct social conversation with him,” he said.
AI pictures of Nomvalo with Ramaphosa
Nomvalo also alleged AI-generated pictures were used to portray him as someone working with ANC leaders and receiving money from them.
“To illustrate these lies, I’m told an AI picture of me taking money from ANC leaders was shown to the president [Zuma],” he said.
“In fact, AI pictures were shown to the president; I have one of those pictures of me taking an envelope from President [Cyril] Ramaphosa.”
Was expecting the axe
Despite defending himself against the allegations, Nomvalo said he had long expected to lose his position.
“My mind was long prepared for this. It was prepared for this,” he added.
