Speculations continue to mount that former uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party Secretary General Floyd Shivambu will today announce his resignation from the party and announce the formation of his new political party.
In a widely publicised media invite, Shivambu’s spokesperson Nolubabalo Mcinga, who also left the EFF alongside Shivambu to join the MK in August 2024, said that the media briefing will be held in Midrand but didn’t divulge much into the subject of the briefing.
Today’s media briefing comes amid heavy criticism by the party leader Jacob Zuma against Shivambu, during the Youth Day celebration at the launch of the party’s youth wing in Durban on Monday, June 16.
Political analyst from the North West University Professor Kedibone Phago told YOU FM Newshour that Shivambu must have been disappointed in how Zuma publicly humiliated him following his removal from his position as the 7th Secretary General of the party.
“Of course that is at the heart of this, what you need to remember is politics is about power, is about ambition, is about eventually getting state power so the nature of a political game itself is to advance one’s fortunes into the command structures.
So, to be removed from a position of a Secretary General, which serves as the engine of the party, really tells you that that was a major blow.
Even when he was removed, we were told that he was going to be representing the party in parliament, but when the names were released, his name was omitted so you could see that he was completely played out of this game, and you can imagine that the level of disappointment is quite huge,” said Phago.
Furthermore, Phago said Floyd’s removal from the party leadership undoubtedly broke down a political relationship that existed between him and Zuma.
“His removal tells you that they’re not seeing eye to eye, because it is a serious downfall for Floyd who left the EFF hoping to advance his political career with the MK Party and so within a space of a year he’s removed from his position.
This tells you that he is embattled now and very much wounded politically.
He is looking for someone who can support him and bind his wounds, but I am not sure he’s looking at the right place for that,” explained Phago.
Shivambu joined the MKP from the EFF in August last year and was immediately appointed as the national organiser.
In November, he was elevated to the position of Secretary General, the position he held until earlier this month.
Phago didn’t rule out the possibility of Dr. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, Adv. Dali Mpofu, Mzwanele Manyi and others who left the EFF alongside Shivambu to join his ‘new party?
“Look, I’m not certain but we cannot discount that.
Because you must remember that there are few other individuals that have also been removed from their positions and one of those is Manyi who was the Parliamentary Caucus Chief Whip, so it may look like that there’s a serious purge in the MKP now. So indeed, that might be a possibility, but I am not sure if Ndlozi has already made up his mind to return to politics,” concluded Phago.
