IT appears a storm might be brewing in the MK party.
This after its leader, Jacob Zuma travelled to India to visit fugitive, Ajay Gupta.
His prominent loyalist and former MK party head of presidency, Magasela Mzobe issued a scathing condemnation of the trip and blamed senior party figures for orchestrating what he called a damaging entanglement.
Mzobe, who once described himself as Zuma's "eyes, ears and hands", broke his silence with a pointed statement, saying the reported meeting between Zuma and Gupta is harmful to both the party president and the movement as a whole.
"It's a collective responsibility of both the MKP leadership and membership to protect its president from any possible harm, politically or otherwise," said Mzobe.
"The reported meeting of president Zuma with Ajay Gupta is harmful to our president and the movement as a whole. I hope the MKP leadership won't entangle itself, the president and our movement into this Manyi-Gupta entanglement."
Mzobe squarely blamed MK party Member of Parliament (MP), Mzwanele Manyi and the JG Foundation for arranging the India trip, which he said was presented to Zuma as a private visit for religious purposes.
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He noted that during his 18 months as MK party head of presidency, neither Zuma nor the party leadership had any interaction with the Guptas or their associates and insisted it must stay that way.
"Cadre Mzwanele Manyi and the JG Foundation must take full responsibility for the India trip presented to the president as a private visit for religious purposes," he said.
Mzobe, who resigned from his position in March 2026 claiming he wanted to focus on his football club, Newcastle All Stars FC, called on the leadership to hold Manyi accountable, citing previous party disciplinary action against former MK party secretary-general Floyd Shivambu when he visited Prophet Shepherd Bushiri.
"I don't regret this post and I have called the leadership including the president's office. The future of MKP, not of a faction, is at stake here. I trust the leaders will know what to do," he said.
The controversy adds to the mounting pressures facing the party as it navigates internal tensions, which saw the firing of MPs Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla and Nhlamulo Ndhlela ahead of the local government elections.
MK party spokesman Sifiso Mahlangu told IOL that Zuma was a private citizen and could travel wherever he wants.
