After his humiliating axing from his powerful position as uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party secretary-general a few weeks back, Floyd Shivambu is set to announce his resignation from the party.
His spokesperson, Nolubalalo Mcinga, a former EFF MP who joined MK Party alongside him, has confirmed that Shivambu will hold a media briefing on Thursday in Midrand but refused to discuss what he plans to do.
Asked whether Shivambu notified the MK Party leadership or received permission, Mcinga said since he is an ordinary member, there was no reason to ask for permission because he will hold the briefing in his capacity.
However, party insiders said the former SG will announce his resignation, which will be followed by the announcement of a new party he is forming.
“The former SG has been getting a lot of calls from the media wanting to respond to the various political developments in the country, so he will be reflecting on those political developments,” said Mcinga.
A source in the party said this has been unheard of, that a member of any political party will hold a media briefing to talk about his personal political views.
“We do not think it’s about that, and the fact that he has already appointed his spokesperson tells you that this was long planned,” said the source.
The MK Party spokesperson, Nhlamulo Ndhlela, had not yet responded to the question sent to him on whether the party had sanctioned or was aware of the briefing.
Shivambu’s media briefing comes amid heavy criticism by the MK Party founder, Jacob Zuma, during the launch of the party’s youth league wing in Durban at the weekend.
In a thinly veiled reference to Shivambu, Zuma said that his party has decided to fire people from senior positions after they had done bad things, which the party did not want to reveal in public, adding that the party has had seven secretary-generals.
Earlier this month, in a media briefing that was attended by Zuma and only called to announce Shivambu’s removal, the party cited his unsanctioned visit to controversial Malawian fugitive Prophet Shepherd Bushiri, who fled South Africa in 2020.
Bushiri and his wife, Mary, fled the country in 2020 after being granted bail on charges including fraud and money laundering.
A Malawian court recently granted South Africa’s request to extradite the couple to face charges, including rape and fraud, and they have indicated their intention to appeal.
In a statement read by the national chairperson, Nkosinathi Nhleko, the party said Shivambu’s visit to Bushiri was not sanctioned by the party and violated its constitution. It also announced that Shivambu will be redeployed to Parliament.
He was expected to be sworn in this week; however, it is not clear whether this will still happen after his media briefing on Thursday.
Despite the party’s citing of Shivambu’s Malawi trip, dissenting voices within the party have also accused him of giving senior positions to newcomers while overlooking founding members.
Shivambu joined the MK Party 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.
