Former Judge President and uMkhonto WeSizwe Party (MKP) leader, John Hlophe, is accused of making sexual advances against axed Mpumalanga convener, Mary Phadi. The former leader has been replaced by former Public Protector Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane. 

MORALITY AND ETHICS

In the letter, Phadi explains how the incident started.  She said, "I write this letter to you to express my concern about the events that have been unfolding in our beloved party uMkhonto weSizwe, especially the events that relate to myself being victimised through the various propaganda and false accusations placed upon my name. I would like to put it on record that these accusations have been escalating since the Deputy President (Cde John Hlophe) made sexual advances towards me that I did not appreciate. As a leader in uMkhonto weSizwe I take the matters of ethics and morality very seriously and with the mandate to serve and deliver to our people."

NOT GIVING IN TO THE ADVANCES

She added that the incident happened in Nelspruit and she did not allow herself to spend the night with Hlophe. 

Phadi added, "As a woman I am being vilified and victimised since I refused to give into his attempts of spending the night with him as favours on August 4th in 2024 he (Hlophe) sent a text with effect of 22:54 on that day after we had a leadership meeting in Nelspruit.My refusal and unresponsiveness was the diplomatic drive to manage the situation.I feel that the persistent vilification and continued propaganda against me is a consequence of my refusal to give in to his advances. This is manufactured behind the scenes by him."

Last year Commander Phadi was "expelled" as convener by the MK Party on allegations of mismanagement of funds and an assassination plot. 

After winning her case against the party at the Mpumalanga High Court, she was accused of being an "ANC plant" deployed to distabilise the MK Party.