Johannesburg – The highly influential deputy president of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Floyd Shivambu on Thursday announced that he was leaving the party he co-founded to join former president Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party.
Speaking at the EFF headquarters – Winnie Madikizela-Mandela House – in Marshalltown, Shivambu, who co-founded the party over a decade ago, said he was not renewing his membership.
Shivambu said he had handed in his resignation letter – meaning he will no longer be an EFF Member of Parliament.
“I will join and participate in uMkhonto weSizwe party,” Shivambu confirmed.
EFF leader Julius Malema said the resignation of Shivambu has left him feeling the same emotions he felt when his mother passed away.
He said Shivambu, whom he co-founded the EFF with, was “like a brother”.
Turning to Shivambu, the EFF leader said: “The day you decide to come back, you are more than welcome”.
Malema said, Shivambu’s resignation was the “biggest test” for the EFF and it was anticipated other party members would likely follow him and join the MK.
He said EFF MP Mzwanele Manyi was also leaving the party to join the MK.
Earlier this month the National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza said she had received correspondence from the MK party informing her of the termination of the membership of 20 MPs.
The move meant that the terminated MK members ceased to be MPs and would have to be replaced.
