Breaking South African current affairs news, Johannesburg – Floyd Shivambu wishes EFF ‘pure success and prosperity’ as he announces he’s quitting the party he founded 11 years ago with Julius Malema to join the Jacob Zuma’s MK Party.
Shivambu opened an impromptu press briefing held Thursday afternoon at the party’s headquarters, the Winnie Madikizela House in Marshalltown, Johannesburg with the announcement that he’s resigning as the party’s deputy President and from all positions at EFF, including parliament.
Shivambu is said to have communicated his intention to resign from the party to Malema on Wednesday. “My non-renewal of the EFF’s membership is not a vote of no confidence in the organisation but a revolutionary act that would allow progressive forces to unite and work towards the agenda,” he said.
“I have decided to join the ranks of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party and will be actively involved in shaping the politics of the country. There’s is no specific position that will be assigned to me, there is no promise of any deployment,” the former ANC Youth League spokesperson said.
Responding to the developments, blindsided is essentially what the sombre-looking Malema said he was as he addressed the media. He likened the “pain” of Shivambu’s resignation to the death of his mother, adding that the EFF’s door would always be open for him, this is despite the party’s policy not allowing members who have resigned to join other parties to return to the EFF.
“To me is not just a comrade but a brother and he will remain a brother, even when he pursues his political career differently. We formed this organisation together. When he sent me a letter yesterday I felt the same pain when I received the news of the passing of my mother,” Malema said.
Malema indicated, without mentioning any names, that more EFF party leaders would be leaving alongside Shivambu to join the MK Party.
“Floyd is not the only one, Jimmy Manyi has also resigned to go and join MK and there will be many others who are going to leave the EFF because they have their loyalty and support to the deputy president but fighters on the ground should be prepared for more people to follow and this should not as a point of collapse for the EFF.”
