The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) has welcomed back, with immediate effect, suspended party member John Hlophe as its first deputy president and leader in Parliament.

Hlophe was suspended in November for replacing parliamentary Chief Whip Colleen Makhubele with Des van Rooyen. The party said at the time that the changes were effected “without a collective consultation”, and launched an investigation into Hlophe’s conduct.

The MKP said on Wednesday that it had appointed an independent legal panel to investigate his conduct.

“Following this process, H.E President [Jacob] Zuma held a bilateral meeting with Dr. Hlophe, during which the allegations were thoroughly discussed. After considering the outcomes, President Zuma has decided to immediately reinstate Dr. Hlophe as both the 1st Deputy President and the Party Leader in Parliament. The Party thanks Hon. Des Van Rooyen, who has served as an exceptional leader in his role as the Acting Party Leader in Parliament in the interim,” it said in a statement.