Hundreds of uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) Party members marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Friday, demanding President Cyril Ramaphosa’s immediate resignation over what they claim is a clear violation of the Constitution.

The protest, held on Nelson Mandela Day, saw crowds of party supporters clad in green, black and gold regalia, singing struggle songs and waving placards as they gathered outside the seat of government. Buses from various provinces delivered MK Party members in their hundreds, responding to a national mobilisation by the party’s leadership.

At the centre of the protest is the President’s handling of the leadership vacuum at the Ministry of Police.

Earlier this week, President Ramaphosa placed Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on special leave pending investigations, but confusion erupted when it was announced during Sunday’s briefing that someone from outside of Cabinet had been appointed to act as minister.

The Presidency later revised this and formally named Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Gwede Mantashe as the acting Minister of Police. However, the MK Party maintains that the initial move was unlawful and unconstitutional.

MK Party national spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela said Ramaphosa’s “pack of contradictions” and shifting explanations have further exposed his “lack of leadership, legal understanding and accountability”.

“He flip-flopped because he was caught out. First, he appointed someone outside of Cabinet — which is illegal under the Constitution — and only after public backlash did he announce Mantashe as the acting minister,” said Ndhlela.

“This shows that Ramaphosa has no regard for the Constitution. He lacks the basic knowledge of the law he has sworn to uphold. He has failed the country and must resign with immediate effect,” he said.

The party accuses Ramaphosa of violating Sections 91(3) and 98 of the Constitution, which clearly stipulate that only members of Cabinet may act as ministers in cases of absence or incapacity.

Speaking at the protest, former Western Cape Judge President and MK Party deputy leader Dr John Hlophe said the President’s “reckless and unconstitutional actions” had compromised the country’s security.

“This isn’t just a technical error. It has direct implications for national security, law enforcement oversight and constitutional order,” said Hlophe. “Ramaphosa has repeatedly shown that he is out of his depth. He must pack his bags and go.”

The MK Party had earlier given Ramaphosa a deadline of 9 am on Friday to resign. That deadline has now passed without a response from the Presidency.

Ndhlela confirmed that the party is now pursuing urgent legal action in the Constitutional Court and will be tabling a motion of no confidence in Parliament.

“In terms of Section 102 of the Constitution, we will move to table a motion of no confidence. Simultaneously, our legal team is finalising papers for the Constitutional Court to declare the President’s actions unconstitutional,” he said.

The party is also preparing for nationwide rolling mass action.

“We will not be governed by a constitutional delinquent,” said Ndhlela. “The MK Party will lead rolling mass action in every province to show this government that the people come first — not political insiders or elite deals.”

The demonstration, while large and vocal, remained peaceful, with a heavy police presence and road closures around the Union Buildings precinct. Police officials confirmed the protest had been authorised and was monitored closely.

Constitutional law experts say the situation raises serious legal questions.

Professor Pierre de Vos from the University of Cape Town told journalists that the President may have overstepped his constitutional limits.

“Section 98 allows the President to appoint an acting minister in cases of absence or incapacity, but this must comply with Section 91(3), which limits ministerial roles to Cabinet members. If someone outside Cabinet was tasked, even temporarily, that would be unconstitutional,” said De Vos.

The Presidency has not issued a formal statement on the matter, and spokesperson Vincent Magwenya had not responded to questions at the time of publication.

This latest confrontation between the MK Party and President Ramaphosa adds to growing pressure on the head of state, who has faced criticism from various quarters over governance failures, political instability, and now, alleged constitutional misconduct.

MK Party leaders argue that this moment represents a turning point.

“We are in a constitutional crisis,” said Hlophe. “When the President shows ignorance of the very laws that govern this republic, it’s time for him to step aside. He has failed in both leadership and legality.”

As South Africans commemorate Nelson Mandela Day — a day dedicated to justice, integrity and constitutionalism — the MK Party’s protest has cast a sharp light on the fractures within South Africa’s political leadership and deepening public distrust in President Ramaphosa’s administration.

The MK Party vowed that Friday’s march was only the beginning of a broader campaign to “rescue the Constitution and restore the will of the people”.

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