Floyd Shivambu climbs higher in Jacob Zuma’s party MK
Former EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu has been appointed as the new secretary general of the MK party, led by former South African president Jacob Zuma.
The appointment, effective immediately, was confirmed in a press release issued by the MK party on Sunday, where they noted that Zuma, alongside party officials, decided to fill the position following the recent resignation of Dr. Sifiso Maseko.
Shivambu, who only recently joined the MK party as its national organizer after stepping down from the EFF three months ago, will also retain his position within MK’s national high command.
We welcome the responsibility of Secretary General with utmost humility Comrade President JG Zuma! We commit that we will work with optimal dedication, focus, respect, ideological and political clarity, and towards unity of all the progressive forces!!
We commit to the… pic.twitter.com/mV8h64Ahnr
— Floyd Shivambu (@FloydShivambu) November 10, 2024
His departure from the EFF came as a shock to many, including EFF leader Julius Malema, who has long considered Shivambu a close ally, describing their relationship as “brotherly.”
Shivambu’s exit from the EFF aligns with a challenging period for the party, marked by a decline in support in the May 29 elections.
Some EFF supporters migrated their support to the MK party, pushing MK ahead of the EFF as the country’s third most popular party.
Both the MK and EFF parties position themselves within the “progressive caucus” as an alternative to the ANC-led government, especially after the ANC lost its majority.
Recent reports indicate growing friction within the progressive caucus as the MK party gains momentum, with notable figures from the EFF, such as advocate Dali Mpofu, resigning to join MK ranks.
Mpofu, a former EFF chairperson, also previously represented Zuma in legal cases and has now officially joined MK, intensifying rumors of internal EFF instability.
The MK party, however, has its own internal shifts, with several senior members reportedly being shuffled or dismissed under Zuma’s leadership.
In Sunday’s statement, the MK party emphasized Zuma’s confidence in Shivambu, signaling a clear endorsement of his leadership abilities within the party’s evolving structure.
