Kebby Maphatsoe’s death ‘the end of the MKMVA’

With the death of ANC MP and former deputy minister of defence and military veterans Kebby Maphatsoe, the uMkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA) will struggle to survive.

Political analyst Professor Barry Hanyane said Maphatsoe’s death signalled the ultimate demise of the MKMVA.

The controversial Maphatsoe, who died this week of a heart attack, was at the centre of the liberation veterans’ body – one of two to which former uMkhonto we Sizwe members were affiliated.

The other was the MK National Council (MKNC), led by former senior members of various MK detachments in exile, including former South African National Defence Force chief, General Siphiwe Nyanda, current deputy minister of defence and military veterans Thabang Makwetla and Gregory Nthatisi as its acting secretary-general.

The two groups continued to be at loggerheads despite a Nasrec resolution they should disband and form a single body for all MK veterans.

MKNC agreed to dissolve but MKMVA defied the top-level order.

The ANC NEC intervened and ordered their dissolution after its subcommittee on peace and stability failed at a conference to unite the two factions.

Hanyane said under Cyril Ramaphosa’s leadership, the MKMVA’s role in the ANC’s mainline programmes had diminished and the association might be squeezed out of existence if it continued with its attitude.

“The ANC is not going to just let things happen. The leadership will suffocate the oxygen out of them. In fact, this has already started to happen,” he said.

The expert said if the MKMVA continued post-Maphatsoe, the ANC might delink them from the party, including telling them to stop using the former MK uniform which was also part of the ANC heritage.

“The ANC may take stringent steps to curtail their activities and limit their voice. If they continue to associate themselves with Jacob Zuma, the ANC might say they can have their association but tell them not to abuse the ANC or its leadership for factional purposes,” Hanyane said.