The 46-year-old chief whip of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party appeared in the Cape Town Magistrates’ Court on Thursday following her arrest on charges of fraud and extortion.

Mmabatho Nthabiseng Mokoena-Zondi was served with a warrant of arrest by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) in Cape Town on 28 May.

Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Zinzi Hani said Mokoena-Zondi allegedly defrauded four individuals whom she had recruited as party researchers between August 2024 and December 2024.

“She demanded payments from them under the pretext that it was for the legal costs of the MK Party president. They were forced to pay 50% to 60% of their salaries,” Hani said.

The total amount allegedly defrauded is approximately R233 317.99.

Additional complaints were filed by other MK Party members who alleged that Mokoena-Zondi extorted portions of their monthly salaries as a condition for retaining their positions as members of parliament.

This is not the first time Mokoena-Zondi has faced such allegations. In October 2025, whilst serving as the MK Party chief whip of the National Council of Provinces, she faced public accusations of extorting 60% of staff members’ monthly salaries. She denied those claims and said an internal party hearing had cleared her of wrongdoing.

Despite the ongoing allegations, she was appointed as the MK Party’s National Assembly chief whip in February 2026, replacing Colleen Makhubele.

Mokoena-Zondi previously served as an ANC Youth League leader before joining the MK Party.

The MK Party is yet to respond to the arrest.

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