Dr Bongani Mncwango, who served as secretary-general of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party until his removal last month, has officially joined the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP). The IFP has described the move as a sign of growing confidence in its leadership ahead of the 2026 local government elections.
Mncwango replaced Floyd Shivambu in the MK Party role after Shivambu was removed by former President Jacob Zuma in June 2025. In a recent interview, Mncwango described his ousting from the MK Party as unexpected and lacking clear justification or prior discussion.
He recounted attending what he believed was a routine special national officials meeting, only to discover an agenda item for his removal. “There is nothing that has been tabled by the president clearly to me as a reason for my removal,” he said. Mncwango noted that he had regular meetings with Zuma, but these became less frequent in the weeks leading up to his departure due to the president’s travel schedule. He expressed that good leadership practice would involve a direct conversation about any concerns regarding performance or decisions before taking action.
During the meeting where his removal was addressed, Mncwango sensed a possible issue related to decision-making processes. “He was saying things that there are things that we need to be careful of. We have to make sure that when we make decisions, we take them as a collective… That was my assumption. But there was nothing specific really,” he explained.
When asked about his decision to join the IFP, Mncwango revealed he received four offers after the announcement of his removal on March 12. He assessed potential suitors based on key criteria: organizational growth potential, stability, and the maturity and quality of leadership.
He highlighted the IFP’s footprint across South Africa’s 257 municipalities — including eight metros, 44 district municipalities, and 205 local municipalities — noting that the party holds 19 of them, representing roughly over 7% coverage. This, he said, offered significant scope for contributing to further growth.
Mncwango also praised the IFP’s stability, stating the party has “been there, done it,” regardless of past successes or challenges. On leadership, he pointed to its “pretty mature leaders” who focus on serious issues rather than “petty things,” providing a platform for meaningful contributions. “The IFP ticked every box I was looking at,” he said.
He declined to name the other three organizations that made offers, citing professionalism and respect for those entities as well as for President Zuma, from whom he said he learned much in a short time. “I can’t afford to be careless,” Mncwango added.
Reflecting on his entry into politics, Mncwango — who previously held senior positions in the private sector, including as a CEO, and served in the public service and as secretary-general of a trade union — explained that the complex challenges in the political arena drew him in. Having worked in the Department of Justice and in trade unions before moving to corporate roles, he sought a new space at this stage of his life to make a tangible contribution to South African communities.
“I just needed to venture into a new space and I thought the challenges were far more exciting at my age… I think I just need to make a much more tangible contribution back to our communities and I think I want to give back to South Africa,” he stated, noting that both the MK Party and now the IFP presented such opportunities.
The IFP has welcomed Mncwango into its ranks, with the party viewing his arrival as a boost to its organizational strength and a reflection of broader confidence in its direction.
Mncwango expressed optimism about his new role as an ordinary member of the IFP and his ability to contribute to its objectives.