Floyd Shivambu has resigned as the EFF's deputy president. Announcing his decision at the party's press conference today, Shivambu said that he has decided not to renew his membership in the EFF. Without revealing his reasons for ditching the red berets, Shivambu said he will be joining the uMkhonto weSizwe Party led by Jacob Zuma.
RESIGNATION ACCEPTED
Shivambu said that he also resigned as a member of Parliament, representing the party in the National Assembly. "My non-renewal of my membership is not a vote of no confidence in the organisation but a revolutionary act that will allow progressives forced to unite and work towards progressive and revolutionary change," Shivambu said. He added that the MK Party has not promised him any specific position or made any promise of deployment to Parliament. Responding to Shivambu quitting the party, Malema said he accepted the resignation and that it was voluntary. "When I received the letter from Shivambu, I felt the same pain he felt when he received the news of the passing of my mother. Resigning from the EFF is equal to resigning from himself. He is not just a member but a founder of the party. If he decides to come back, he is more than welcome to do so," Malema said. "We wish DP all of success, we know that wherever he is going, he is going to be of value. We have lost a valuable member as the EFF but the show continues," Malema added.
OTHERS WHO HAVE RESIGNED
Shivambu is not the only party member to have asked for their membership to be revoked. Jacob Zuma Foundation spokesperson Mzwanele Manyi has also resigned to join the MK Party. Malema said he understood because they have loyalty to Shivambu. Former Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane and Carl Niehaus, who were earlier rumoured to also be leaving the party, said the news was fake. "I will never betray the fighters, my political home," she said on X. An insider said: "People are unhappy, and this stems from the outcomes of the recent national elections. They have tried to engage with Julius, but it all fell on deaf ears. There are some party members that are very close to Julius, and they are untouchable, which is causing more stress to other members," another source said.
