South Africa:Another Big Loss for the EFF as Deputy President Shivambu Joins a New Political Party

By Prince Kurupati

 While still nursing the wounds of the May 29 South African general election where it performed below par, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party led by Julius Malema has been dealt yet another huge blow following the resignation of its deputy president, Floyd Shivambu. Shivambu, who is a founding member of the EFF, joins the Mkhonto weSizwe (MK) party led by former South African president Jacob Zuma. 

The official EFF ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) handle announced in the early hours of Thursday, 15 August, about an impending press conference. “The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) invites members of the media to attend an urgent press conference today, which will be addressed by the EFF officials,” read the press conference. Soon after the release, rumours started to circulate, with reporters and officials close to the EFF's top circles correctly predicting that Shivambu was jumping ship.

When the press conference commenced at the Winnie Madikizela Mandela House, members of the media were initially surprised to see all of the top brass of the EFF, including Floyd Shivambu, available. However, as soon as the press conference started, it became evident that the rumours were true as Shivambu stated, “We have called this Press Conference as the Officials of the EFF so that we get an opportunity to Publicly read out the letter which I sent yesterday to the President and Commander-in-Chief… the letter says: Greetings Comrade President. The Chairperson of Ward 44 Johannesburg has informed me that my membership of the EFF has lapsed. And I said: Please be informed that I will not renew my membership of the EFF.”

When it came to Malema’s turn, he started by saying, “I stand before you to accept the decision of the Deputy President of the EFF, who has voluntarily resigned his positions, and did not renew his membership… When he 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. He is a brother, and he will remain a brother even when he pursues his political career differently.”

Owing to the close relationship between the two, Malema said he would do something that he wouldn’t in other circumstances. While the Constitution of the EFF does not allow people to resign and join other political parties and come back to the party, Malema said, “I have made this offer to Floyd that the day you decide to come back, you are more than welcome”.

More damaging for the EFF is that owing to Shivambu’s influence in the party, he will go with some people. Malema acknowledged this, saying the first ‘casualty’ is Jimmy Manyi, who has also resigned to join the MK party. Malema said, “There are many others who are going to leave the EFF because they have got their loyalty and support to the deputy president”.

Despite the setback, the EFF president assured party supporters that the party is still going strong. He said this is actually the beginning of a journey. “I want to reassure the Ground Forces of the EFF – loyal, hardworking, and disciplined, Ground Forces of the EFF, I am with you, and I will never turn my back against this organization… I will be buried with the flag of the EFF, my coffin will be wrapped with the flag of the EFF, and I will never turn my back on my people.” He went further saying the position left vacant by Shivambu’s exit will remain as is till the conference scheduled for December this year.

In jumping ships, Malema joins another party that shares almost the same ideology. EFF and MK are part of the Progressive Caucus Charter. Among other things, the parties that are part of the Charter call for the expropriation of land without compensation for equitable redistribution.

Shivambu is undoubtedly a huge loss for the EFF. He has served as the party’s deputy president since its formation in 2013. He has been the central figure in shaping the party’s policy. Also, he conceived the popular EFF Student Command which has played a big role in popularizing the EFF brand not just in South Africa but beyond. Shivambu was currently serving as the EFF’s chief whip in Parliament, a position he is set to resign. 

In the immediate aftermath of the announcement of Shivambu’s decision to quit EFF, various political experts and ordinary citizens have come up with theories to explain the rationale behind it. Some argue that Shivambu had reached the ceiling of his EFF career as Julius Malema is almost irremovable from his post as president. For the elective conference slated for December this year, Malema has already announced his intention to seek re-election.

Just this past month, as reported by the Daily Maverick, both Shivambu and Malema were named in an affidavit by the former chairman of VBS Mutual Bank, Tshifhiwa Matodzi, as being “promised” payments from VBS in favour of the EFF. They were allegedly paid off not to use the EFF’s political muscle against VBS. In light of this, political analyst Prof. Andre Duvenhage said Shivambu’s shift may be seeking safe refuge in light of graft allegations against him in the VBS.

Despite everything that happened, some political analysts were just pleased by the way the EFF handled the whole situation. Political analyst Dr Sysman Motloung said the dignified way in which the EFF announced its former deputy president Floyd Shivambu’s resignation from the party shows how much he’s being respected.