By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Former Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) deputy president Floyd Shivambu has been appointed as the national organiser of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party.
Making the announcement on behalf of party president Jacob Zuma, MK Party secretary-general Sifiso Maseko said: “The MK Party will be led by the national high command, which will be the highest [decision-making] body comprising eight officials.
“The leadership collective of the high command is president Jacob Zuma, deputy president Dr John Hlophe, secretary-general Dr Sifiso Maseko, the deputy secretary-general is Nombuso Mkhize and the national organiser is no other than Floyd Shivambu. The national chair is no other than Nkosinathi Nhleko. The deputy national chairperson is Wilson Sibiloane. Our treasurer-general is Menzi Ngubane.”
It announced the changes at a media briefing in Sandton, Johannesburg, on Thursday.
Shivambu’s position places him in charge of governance, political education, and the establishment of party structures, among other responsibilities.
Zuma described Shivambu as a scientific, real, and honest politician, noting that he recognised Shivambu’s potential while he was in the ANC Youth League.
He praised Shivambu for his ability to make the right decisions about his future as a politician.
“This comrade (Shivambu), I’ve known from when he was very young in the ANC Youth League, that’s when I picked him up that he is a real politician.
“He has politics which I define as scientific politics. He is an honest politician,” he said.
“Shivambu immediately joined the MKP after resigning as the deputy president of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
Zuma said MK Party was the answer to citizens’ concerns about their economic future.
He said the political parties, particularly the ANC, are more focused on promoting their political power rather than addressing the ongoing crises in the country.
MK Party is the answer to the people of South Africa,” he said.
The former president asked for additional time for his party to be more focused and flexible in their policies and efforts to improve the country.
Shivambu emphasised the need for all “progressive” parties to unite in the fight for a common cause.
The attempt for unification is not just an opportunistic one because there were electoral declines of the EFF… it is a genuine political discussion, which all South Africans must enter into; those in favour of the revolution,” Shivambu told journalists during a Q&A session.
Shivambu appeared to address criticism from Malema, who earlier this week had some words regarding his former deputy’s departure from the EFF.
“Some people were saying ‘you are betraying me’… where does that enter? You don’t even suggest that I’m betraying the revolution. I’ll never betray the revolution because we are not in the business of trying to please each other’s egos.
“We are 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. That is what we stand for.”
“Zuma, when he was inducting all of us yesterday, said we might be friends. I think we are friends, but friendship won’t apply here.
Shivambu also made it clear that he is not concerned about the possibility of being removed from his new role, despite recent structural changes within the Mk Party.
Meanwhile Zuma is officially no longer an ANC member after missing the 21-day deadline to appeal his expulsion from the party.
The ANC officially cut ties with Zuma last month after the party’s national disciplinary committee (NDC) resolved to expel him following a disciplinary hearing held on 23 July in his absence.
Zuma was given 21 days to appeal the expulsion, but as of Wednesday, that period had elapsed.
The party accused Zuma of contravening rule 25 of the party’s constitution by forming the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party in December last year.
Elsewhere the 10 expelled members of MK Party said they have not received any formal expulsion letters and have not signed any resignation letters, and if such document exists then it may have been forged.