Floyd Shivambu Resigns From the Seat of EFF Deputy Presidency In Favour of Umkhonto Wesizwe Party
Floyd Shivambu has stepped down from his position as the deputy president of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) after serving in the office for the past eleven years since it was established alongside the founding of South Africa’s fourth largest political party.
“The time comes in the life of any nation when there remain only two choices – submit or fight. That time has now come to South Africa. We shall not submit and we have no choice but to hit back by all means in our power in defence of our people, our future, and our freedom”. 16 December 1961!” said Shivambu in his latest Instagram post after the move.
In his resignation letter, the 41-year-old not only reneged his deputy presidency seat within the EFF but also every other position he was already sworn into in Parliament. The radical move will see the former red beret altogether without any affiliation with the party.
Floyd Shivambu | SUPPLIED
“The Chairperson of Ward 44 Johannesburg has informed me that my membership of the EFF has lapsed. Please be informed that I will not renew my membership of the EFF in Ward 44 which is one of the best performing Wards of the EFF in [the] Johannesburg region. I also request to resign my position as Member of Parliament and all positions I hold in the EFF. I will only do so after receiving a go ahead from the organisation because it is the EFF that deployed me to Parliament,” Shivambu said in the opening paragraph of the letter.
The Limpopo-born politico joined the newly-founded uMkhonto WeSizwe (MK) party, which usurped the EFF’s position as the third biggest party in the wake of the 2024 Elections held on the 29th of May 2024. Although the motivation for joining the MK has not been explicitly expressed, the idea was alluded to in the letter, as the MK is part of the Progressive Caucus, which the EFF is also a part of.
“My non renewal of membership of the EFF is not a vote of no confidence in the organisation, but a revolutionary act that will allow Progressive Forces to unite and work towards the agenda for progressive and revolutionary change,” said Shivambu in the letter.
Floyd Shivambu | SUPPLIED
The EFF’s Commander in Chief Julius Malema accepted his former comrade’s decision with a heavy yet open heart, equating the pain of Floyd’s departure with pain of losing his mother. Expressing his dismay at the resignation while also preserving the respect of their relationship, he called him a “brother” in a press meeting on the 15th of August 2024. He also made Shivambu the exceptional offer of returning to the EFF, should he have a change of heart somewhere down the line.
“When he sent me a letter [of resignation] yesterday, I felt the same pain when I received the news of the passing away of my Mother […] The Constitution of the EFF does not allow people to resign and join other political parties and come back to the [EFF] Party. But I have made this offer to Floyd, that the day you decide to come back, you are more than welcome,” Malema said.
Besides Shivambu, Malema also confirmed that Mzwanele Manyi was also jumping ship to join the MK. He also hinted that many more could follow, particularly those who are Shivambu loyalists.
The MK Party confirmed the developments with a statement of their own, welcoming Manyi and Shivambu.
“uMkhonto Wesizwe Party confirms that Cde. Mzwanele Manyi and Cde. Floyd Shivambu have joined the [MK] Party, The uMkhonto Wesizwe Party welcomes the decision by these astute and well experienced leaders as it could not have come at a better time,” said the statement from the MK Party.