WESTERN CAPE: On Thursday, 28 May 2026 a 46-year-old chief whip of a well-known party was served with a warrant of arrest in connection with acts of fraud.
It is alleged that during August 2024 to December 2024 the suspect head hunted and recruited four individuals into the party as researchers and during their employment she demanded payments under the pretext that it was for the legal cost of the President of the same party. They were forced to pay fifty to sixty percent of their salaries.
In total, the suspect defrauded the members of approximately R233 317.99.
The suspect – Mmabatho Nthabiseng Mokoena-Zondi, the Chief Whip of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party and a member of Parliament’s Impeachment Committee – is to make her first appearance in the Cape Magistrate’s Court, today, 28 May 2026.
The arrest follows an investigation by the Hawks into allegations that Mokoena-Zondi defrauded parliamentary researchers she had recruited:
Between August 2024 and December 2024, Mokoena-Zondi reportedly headhunted and recruited four individuals to work as researchers for the party.
During their employment, she allegedly demanded that they pay over 50% to 60% of their monthly salaries, under the false pretence that the funds were required to cover the legal costs of the party’s president, Jacob Zuma.
Mokoena-Zondi handed herself over to authorities after being served with a warrant of arrest. She is scheduled to make her first appearance at the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on the afternoon of May 28, 2026.
The MK party has acknowledged the charges and stated that Mokoena-Zondi voluntarily presented herself to law enforcement. A spokesperson for the party noted that they are studying the situation and intend to release an official statement.