Des van Rooyen appointed MK Party Chief Whip

The uMkhonto weSizwe Party has announced the appointment of Des van Rooyen as its new Chief Whip in Parliament. The party said the appointment takes effect immediately and is part of efforts to strengthen its parliamentary caucus and improve coordination among its Members of Parliament.

Van Rooyen replaces Colleen Makhubele, who had been serving as Chief Whip since the party’s members took up their seats in the National Assembly after the May 2024 general elections. The party thanked Makhubele for her contribution and service in the role.

In a statement issued by MK Party national spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela on Tuesday night, the party said van Rooyen brings decades of experience in both politics and governance. The statement described him as a seasoned cadre of the liberation movement who previously served as an uMkhonto weSizwe operative and soldier between 1986 and 1994.

Van Rooyen’s political career spans local, provincial and national levels. He has previously served as a Member of Parliament and held various leadership positions in government. His background includes experience in economic and financial policy, as well as public development and management.

He holds several academic qualifications, including a Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Economics from the University of the Western Cape, a Master’s Degree in Public Development and Management from Wits University, and a Master of Science in Finance (Economic Policy) from the University of London. He also holds certificates and diplomas in municipal governance, business management, and public finance.

Van Rooyen is best known for his brief tenure as Minister of Finance in December 2015, when he was appointed to the position during the administration of former president Jacob Zuma. He later served as Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.

National spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela said the party has full confidence that under van Rooyen’s leadership, the parliamentary caucus will be more disciplined, focused, and aligned with the party’s vision. Ndhlela added that the appointment is aimed at ensuring the caucus works effectively to advance the interests of South Africans who remain disadvantaged and marginalized.

“The party has full confidence that under his stewardship as Chief Whip, the parliamentary caucus will be strengthened, disciplined and more strategically aligned with the party’s historic mission of completing the total liberation of the South African people,” Ndhlela said.

The party also assured its supporters that the new leadership in Parliament would bring renewed energy and direction. “The new leadership in Parliament will enrich the work of the caucus, sharpen its political focus and enhance its ability to represent the will of the people without compromise,” Ndhlela added.

The appointment of van Rooyen comes as the MK Party continues to build its parliamentary structures following its emergence as a significant force in national politics after the 2024 elections. The party, which draws much of its support from KwaZulu-Natal and other provinces, has pledged to pursue what it calls the unfinished mission of the liberation struggle.