EFF bleeds as Floyd joins Zuma’s party

By Zukile Majova
Political Editor

• EFF Deputy President Floyd Shivambu is joining Jacob Zuma’s MK party.

• Shivambu will lead MK’s parliamentary strategy, and more EFF members are expected to follow, according to Julius Malema.

12.50pm: EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu and several EFF executives are joining Jacob Zuma’s Umkhonto Wesizwe party.

Shivambu met Zuma at his KwaDakwadunuse homestead in Nkandla on the eve of the national general elections in May. He is expected to become a member of parliament for the MK party.

The MK has recalled 20 MPs and is in the process of reinforcing its representatives in parliament.

Shivambu is expected to lead policy formulation and develop a parliamentary strategy for the MK party, which comprises inexperienced MPs.

As the biggest party outside of the government of national unity, the MK party is the official opposition in parliament.

Even though it is led by disgraced former Cape Judge President John Hlophe, the party has been exposed as inexperienced in parliament.

MK representatives in various parliamentary committees are expected to lead efforts to hold President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government accountable.

The party received over 15% of the national vote share and has 58 MPs.

EFF president Julius Malema told a media conference in Johannesburg that he expected more MPs to join Shivambu, including Mzwanele Manyi, Zuma’s former spokesperson.

Also joining the exodus are former Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane, EFF chairperson Veronica Mente, and Carl Niehaus.

Malema said many others will leave the EFF because they are loyal to former deputy president Floyd Shivambu.

“Fighters on the ground should be prepared for more people to follow,” said Malema.

“And this should not serve as a point of collapse for the EFF.”

12.30pm: Floyd Shivambu announces he is leaving the EFF to join Jacob Zuma’s MK party. Shivambu who met Zuma at his KwaDakwadunuse homestead in Nkandla on the eve of the national general elections, is expected to become a Member of Parliament for the MK.

9.30am: Floyd Shivambu, the deputy president of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and one of the party’s founding leaders, is expected to resign from the party on Thursday.

The fallout between Julius Malema and Shivambu has been building for at least two years, with some members pushing for Shivambu to replace Malema as party president.

This situation is linked to the party’s poor performance in the last general elections and comes as the EFF prepares for its elective conference in December.

An official announcement is expected at midday.

Shivambu has already informed his branch in Ward 44, Johannesburg, that he won’t be renewing his membership with the EFF.

He will also be stepping down from his position in Parliament.

Shivambu is not leaving alone. Other members, such as former President Jacob Zuma’s spokesperson, Jimmy Manyi, and former Public Protector, Busisiwe Mkhwebane, are also expected to resign.

Carl Niehaus, a long-time supporter of Zuma, as well as Veronica Mente, the national chairperson of the EFF, along with many other EFF members, are also likely to leave.

Disagreements within the EFF leadership have intensified due to Malema’s decision to reject the ANC’s offer for the EFF to join the government of national unity.

Meanwhile, Zuma’s MK party has recalled about 20 MPs and is expected to submit a new list of representatives in Parliament.

The MK party reportedly needs experienced MPs to help with policy matters.

Pictured above: Floyd Shivambu. 

Source: X