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The South African
11 hours ago
- Politics
- The South African
Shivambu dares Zuma to fire him: 'I will not resign from MK Party'
Floyd Shivambu has slyly dared uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party leader Jacob Zuma to axe him from the organisation, after the former secretary-general announced tentative steps towards the formation of a new political party. On Thursday afternoon, Shivambu briefed the media in Johannesburg, revealing that he would be embarking on a countrywide consultative process – speaking to religious leaders and football club owners – to gauge whether an appetite exists among South Africans for a new entrant into electoral politics. However, this move to consult ahead of the formation of what would ostensibly be the MK Party's competition for votes, is at odds with section 5 (membership) of the Zuma-led party's constitution, a document drafted by Shivambu himself. 'Save for highly exceptional and strategic circumstances and with the approval of the National Officials and the High Command, members of MKP are not allowed to be members of another political party, except organisations in formal alliances with the MKP,' the party's constitution reads. On Wednesday evening, the MK Party's spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela distanced the party from Shivambu's press conference, a clear sign that the party's leadership had not given Shivambu their approval to go on his new-party consultation tour. Probed by a journalist at the Thursday briefing about the 'dual membership' conundrum, and that he may be in contravention of the MK Party's constitution, Shivambu let the mask of cordiality slip. 'I have not resigned from uMkhonto weSizwe,' adding that he would never resign from the party he joined 10 months ago, when he defected from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). Shivambu then reiterated the party's stance on dual membership and the constitutional guidelines. 'If uMkhonto weSizwe [Party] believes that going to listen to the people violates the constitution, it [the party] will tell me that… 'listening to the people is a violation of the constitution',' Shivambu said. 'I will not resign,' Shivambu repeated, in what sounds like a 'you will have to push me, but I will not jump' strategy – a tiny sign that not all is rosy between him and the octogenarian he has 'tremendous respect for'. Shivambu's move to start a new political entity, thus making him a member of two political parties, is not dissimilar to Zuma's own membership wrangle with the African National Congress (ANC). As recently as January 2025, Zuma was threatening the ANC with legal action if the liberation party did not restore his membership. The former ANC president was expelled from the party in November 2025 after he was found guilty of misconduct because he started the MK Party. If Zuma – who Shivambu described as 'gullible' on Thursday – can be a member of two political parties, why can't I? Shivambu could ask. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
29-04-2025
- Business
- The South African
Steenhuisen for president? Malema vows to support motion to remove Ramaphosa
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema says they won't support uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party's no confidence motion against the Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana, instead they would support one against President Cyril Ramaphosa. The party filed the motion over the VAT impasse as National Treasury scrapped the proposed 0.5 percentage points which would have been effective on 1 May. During a media briefing on Monday, 28 February, Malema said the MK Party's motion is ineffective and that if the Zuma-led party meant business there should be a motion of no confidence in President Cyril Ramaphosa whom he said is responsible for many of the challenges the country is facing. Malema said they would support any motion against Ramaphosa. 'He's the man responsible for every mess I'm experiencing today. However, we're not there yet as the EFF where we think we can put a motion of no confidence because we're still working the ground. We don't want to do some poorly canvassed work in Parliament he said. In the same light of motions, Malema also warned that at some point in the near future, there will be a no-confidence motion against Ramaphosa and that the DA's John Steenhuisen could be the next head of state. 'This country will have a white president, this country will have Steenhuisen as a president if the ANC is going to behave the way it is behaving. 'A motion of no confidence will come and we will vote with the DA, mobilise all those we can mobilise and vote together with the DA against the president, and then when it's time to elect a president we abstain and the ANC loses,' he said. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
