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A few months after joining the party, the former Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) deputy president, Floyd Shivambu, has been appointed as the secretary general of uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party.
The MK Party president, Jacob Zuma, made the announcement on Sunday, following the resignation of the former party secretary-general, Dr Sifiso Maseko, on Wednesday.
Shivambu, who joined MK after leaving the Red Berets in August, was initially appointed as the party’s national organiser.
According to City Press, Shivambu resigned from the EFF due to disputes over the approach taken in negotiations with the government of national unity (GNU). He chose not to renew his membership and resigned as an MP after being with the party for over a decade, having been a founding member alongside Julius Malema.
Shivambu welcomed the appointment by the former president Zuma, promising to “work with optimal dedication, focus, respect, ideological and political clarity, and towards unity of all the progressive forces.”
He wrote on his X account: “We commit to the leadership of uMkhonto weSizwe, the entire membership and the people of South Africa that we will build a formidable organisation which has the capacity to win elections outrightly and is able to provide responsive and responsible government,
The understanding of the role of Secretary General is that we are going to the ground to interact with our people and not be locked in air-conditioned offices. We will never disappoint and victory is certain.
The MK party has been gaining members from the EFF, with several high-profile figures leaving the EFF to join Zuma’s 11-month-old party.
Two former EFF MPs, Busisiwe Mkhwebane and Mzwandile Manyi, resigned to join the MK party. Mkhwebane now serves as the MK party’s convener in Mpumalanga, while Manyi is the MK party’s parliamentary whip.
On Thursday, Jacob Zuma’s long-time legal representative and senior EFF member, Advocate Dali Mpofu, resigned from the party and announced that he was joining the MK party.
However, Malema seems unfazed by these departures, as he anticipates more exits.
Following Mpofu’s departure, Malema took to social media to inform EFF members that he expects more members to leave soon but assured them that the party will continue to exist and thrive.
He wrote: “Only two more of your favourites remain, and the list will be finalised. They sing beautifully and are always willing to pose for pictures and sign roll calls, but remember, their souls are long gone. To prevent any potential hurt, it’s crucial to heed the guidance of the leadership. We remain standing and are not going anywhere under a criminal syndicate.
