Former EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu, who joined the uMkhonto weSizwe Party three months ago, has been appointed the party's secretary-general by Jacob Zuma. His appointment comes after the former secretary-general, Dr. Sifiso Maseko, resigned from the position on Tuesday to go back to his job at the Gauteng Department of Health.

FIFTH SG IN LESS THAN A YEAR

Shivambu is the party's fifth secretary-general since the formation of the party eleven months ago. When the party launched in December last year, Thanduxolo "Gorbachev" Dyodo was appointed the party SG until April, when he was expelled from the party along with co-founder Jabulani Khumalo and four other members. Dyodo was succeeded by Sihle Ngubane, who left the role after the elections to become an MP, leading to former ANC bigwig Arthur Zwane taking over the role but resigned in July this year. At the time, Zuma said he rejected Zwane's resignation and reinstated him only to fire him three weeks later for misleading the party. Dr. Maseko was appointed as the party's SG, a position he held for two months until he resigned on Tuesday.

GOING BACK TO HIS JOB AFTER BEING INVESTIGATED FOR CORRUPTION

In a statement, the party said Zuma received a letter of resignation from Maseko on Tuesday, requesting to be relieved from his responsibilities as his suspension at the Gauteng Department of Health was lifted after an internal disciplinary process was concluded. He explained that his decision was due to his return to his full-time position as the chief director of infrastructure at the Gauteng Department of Health, following the lifting of his suspension while awaiting the outcome of a disciplinary committee investigation. Maseko was suspended in 2022 alongside eight other officials after the Special Investigating Unit's report's findings following an investigation into the irregularities over the department's purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the surge of COVID-19 involving several service providers.

FLOYD APPOINTED NEW SECRETARY-GENERAL

The party said, as prescribed by its Constitution, Zuma appointed Shivambu as a secretary-general with immediate effect after consulting with the MK Party national officials. "Commander Nyiko Floyd Shivambu will assume all the functions and tasks of secretary-general as prescribed by the Constitution of the MKP. The President and National Officials will, in line with the Constitution of the organisation, announce the necessary changes pertaining to the vacant role of the National Organiser," the statement said. Zuma also commended Maseko for playing an important role in the life of the organisation. "The President expresses full confidence in secretary-general Nyiko Floyd Shivambu and the entire leadership of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party," read the statement.