FOUNDING member and erstwhile deputy president of the EFF Floyd Shivambu’s dramatic departure from the party to align himself with the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party underscores the ever-shifting alliances in the political landscape, where, as the saying goes, “there are no permanent friends or enemies in politics”.
Shivambu’s resignation on Thursday came as a shock to many, as Shivambu and the EFF were very vocal about Zuma’s removal after the Nkandla scandal came to light.
This was after the ANC expelled now EFF leader Julius Malema from the ANC in 2012, during Zuma’s tenure as president of both the country and the ANC.
Following Malema’s expulsion, Shivambu and others resigned from the ANC to form the EFF in 2013. The red berets went on to win 6.4% of the vote in the 2014 elections and 25 seats in the National Assembly, and gunned for Zuma’s removal.
In 2015, Shivambu and Malema were removed from Parliament during Zuma’s eighth State of the Nation Address (Sona). This was after Malema insisted that Zuma answer questions regarding upgrades to his private home in Nkandla.
Shivambu also accused Zuma of being a colonial administrator of the Guptas and claimed he had sold the country to the family. He also accused Zuma of undermining freedom and handing it over to the Guptas.
Shivambu has been the EFF’s first and only deputy president since its formation, and was known as an important figure in shaping the party’s policy, while the popular EFF Student Command was his brainchild. He was also the EFF’s chief whip in Parliament and is yet to resign from the position.
His resignation from the party came just a month after the EFF was knocked out of its position as the third-largest party in the country. The MK Party overtook the EFF and became the official opposition in the National Assembly after the DA decided to join the Government of National Unity.
In his announcement, Shivambu said his resignation and non-renewal of his EFF membership was not due to a lack of confidence in the organisation, but a revolutionary act that would allow progressive forces to unite and work together.
Malema, who appeared sad and powerless during the announcement, said he accepted Shivambu’s resignation because “to me he is not just a comrade, he is a brother, and he will remain a brother even when he pursues his political career differently”.
Malema said that although the resignation was against party rules, he would welcome Shivambu back in a heartbeat if he wanted to return.
He further said that the constitution of the EFF did not allow people to resign and join other political parties and come back to the party, but he has made the offer to Shivambu “that the day you decide to come back, you are more than welcome”.
However, it has been reported that Shivambu’s resignation was fuelled by infighting with Malema over the party’s upcoming elective conference in December. According to our sister’s publication, The Star, Malema’s ambition to remain president of the EFF in December demoralised Shivambu, who had been eyeing the position.
The paper reported that business people had shown interest in supporting Shivambu to dislodge Malema as president at the December conference, but Malema found out and reprimanded Shivambu.
At the party’s 10th anniversary celebrations in July, Malema warned Shivambu that he had his eye on him, in case he wanted to dislodge him. It was also reported that Shivambu had been offered the position of secretary-general of the MK Party.
MK Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela said Shivambu and Jimmy Manyi, who also resigned from the EFF to join the MK Party, would be deployed, respectively, according to their strengths and expertise.