Cape Town – EFF Deputy President Floyd Shivambu has announced his resignation from the party to join Jacob Zuma’s MK Party.
His departure, revealed during a surprise midday briefing at the EFF headquarters on Thursday, comes just months before the party’s third elective conference.
Shivambu said that his decision was driven by personal political development rather than internal conflicts.
“I’ve never in my service of the organisation acted against the organisation’s principles. I’ve never compromised my commitment to true emancipation. The organisation should not mischaracterise my revolutionary decision to not renew my membership. I request that I be relieved of all my deployment in the spheres of the organisation. Political decisions should never be received as betrayal,” he said.
The letter of resignation from Nyiko Floyd Shivambu to the CIC Julius Malema
Floyd joins the MK Party pic.twitter.com/WvIAMSQDG6
— ChrisExcelFake (@ChrisExcel102i) August 15, 2024
EFF leader Julius Malema expressed deep personal pain over Shivambu’s departure, saying that despite their differing political paths, Shivambu will always be considered a brother.
He compared Shivambu’s resignation to the loss of a family member, saying it felt like the death of his mother.
“When he (Shivambu) sent me a letter yesterday, I felt the same pain when I received the news of the passing away of my mother. Because Floyd to me is not just a comrade – is a bother and will remain a brother even when he pursues his political career differently.
“When @FloydShivambu sent me the resignation letter yesterday, I felt what I felt whe I received the news of the passing of my mother,” @Julius_S_Malema#EFFPresser floyd. Ndlozi. The eff. Lady zamar pic.twitter.com/c3JzwQ1xot
— Meshack Mathe Bevhula (@MeshackBevhula) August 15, 2024
“We formed this organisation together and I’ve told him resigning from the EFF is equal to resigning from himself,” said Malema.
He added: “This is a testing moment. An organsiation that has lived beyond 10 years has been through a testing moment.”
Malema noted that while the EFF’s constitution typically prohibited returning members, Shivambu would be welcomed back if he changed his mind.
Malema’s tone was somber, reflecting the significant impact of Shivambu’s exit on the organisation.
The move comes after the MK Party’s rise in prominence, pushing the EFF to the fourth-largest party position.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
