The political landscape in South Africa has taken another dramatic turn as former EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu has officially joined the MK Party, taking on the crucial role of National Organiser.
This appointment comes barely a week after his departure from the EFF. Shivambu's appointment, announced at a media briefing in Sandton, places him at the heart of the MK Party's operations, overseeing political education, monitoring, governance, and the establishment of structures.
He joins a formidable leadership team, including party president Jacob Zuma, deputy president John Hlophe, secretary-general Dr Sifiso Maseko, deputy secretary-general Nombuso Mkhize, treasurer-general Menzi Ngubane, and party chairperson Nathi Nhleko, who gained notoriety during the Nkandla debacle.
The MK Party, now the official opposition in Parliament, has set its sights on building a formidable force ahead of the 2026 local government elections and the 2029 national elections. Zuma, addressing the media, expressed his unwavering commitment to representing the interests of ordinary citizens and fighting for real economic transformation.
“We will, as the MKP, be the voice of the voiceless, and will represent ordinary people on the ground. We will fight for real economic transformation and redress the imbalances of the past, and will uproot all the consequences of apartheid and colonialism,” he said.
However, the announcement comes amidst reports that the MK Party is at risk of becoming a "one-election wonder" if it fails to solidify its structures and develop concrete party policies.
Shivambu, donning a black golf T-shirt and a camouflage cap, both emblazoned with the MK Party logo, wasted no time in addressing the elephant in the room – his departure from the EFF and the criticism he has faced from his former comrade, Julius Malema.
“Some people will say you are betraying me. Where does that enter? And don't you even once suggest that I betrayed the revolution. I'll never betray the revolution. We are not in the business of trying to please each other's egos here. We're in the business of building a revolutionary movement that is going to emancipate the black majority and Africans in particular. And we are unapologetic about that," Shivambu stated.
He dismissed accusations of betrayal, emphasizing that his decision to join the MK Party was not personal but driven by a genuine desire to unite progressive forces and build a sustainable movement for the future of black people in South Africa.
"The attempt for unification is not just an opportunistic one because there were electoral declines of the EFF and all of those things. It's a genuine political discussion which all South Africans must enter into … those who are in favour of the revolution because revolution is the content of what we are standing for," he said.
Malema, speaking to the Gauteng ground forces, accused some within the EFF of using the upcoming People's Assembly as a ladder to climb to senior positions, and he denied backstabbing Shivambu during the recent government of national unity negotiations.
Since Shivambu's announcement, tensions have been running high in the EFF, with speculation swirling about the potential exodus of other prominent members, including Mbuyiseni Ndlozi.
Shivambu, however, remains unfazed by the criticism and the perceived instability within the MK Party. He has declared his unwavering commitment to the party, stating that he is not driven by opportunistic motives and is prepared to work his way up from the ground level.
"Some people are asking me what is going to happen because, in the MK Party, leadership changes every week, and all of those things … what if they change? You say, like if I'm removed as national organiser, I'm going to be a member. And if I'm removed as a member, I'm going to be a volunteer and put up posters, even without the approval of the leadership. I'm not here for opportunistic purposes," he said.
Zuma, who has always admired Shivambu's political acumen, expressed his confidence in the new National Organiser.
"This comrade I have known from when he was very young in the ANC Youth League. That is when I picked up that he is a real politician. This young man, to me, defines scientific politics. He is an honest politician, who is clear politically. He takes decisions at the right time, for good reasons," Zuma said.
