Floyd Shimbavu, the Deputy President of South Africa's Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party has resigned from his role and joined Jacob Zuma's Umkhonto WeSizwe (MK) party..In his resignation, Shimbavu claimed, "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," pointing towards a possible repairing of the relationship between the two parties whose relations have ebbed and flowed..Noting his acceptance of Shimbavu's resignation, Julius Malema–the leader of the EFF–likened the pain of Shimbavu's resignation to the pain he felt when his mother passed away..'When he sent me a letter yesterday, I felt the same pain when I received the news of the passing away of my mother because Floyd to me is not just a comrade. He is a brother and he will remain a brother even when he pursues his political career differently," said Malema..What You Need to Know.Annoucing his exit from the party during a press briefing held at the EFF's headquarters in Johannesburg on Thursday, Shimbavu requested to be immediately released from his duties as a party member, including his position as a Parliamentarian..Assuming the role of Deputy President of the Party in mid-2013, it is thought that many EFF members loyal to Shimbavu will also make a move to join the MK party as the EFF's leadership struggles–brought on through their dismal polling during the May 2024 Presidential election.."Floyd is not the only one. Jimmy Manyi has also resigned to go and join MK. There will be many others who are going to leave the EFF because they have got their loyalty and support to the deputy president," said Malema..The country's recent election shook up the South African political space, with the ANC–who had ruled uninterrupted since 1994–failing to gain more than 50 percent of the vote, forcing it to establish a government of national unity..The political shake up also affected the nation's traditional opposition parties, with the MK party, which was only established in late 2023, unseating the EFF from its position as the country's major opposition party..In a letter sent out by MK party representatives, the party pushed its members to welcome the incoming former EFF MPs, "as leadership, we ask that all members of uMkhonto Wesizwe Party welcome these two progressive comrades as they begin to form part of driving the agenda of the revolution. We wish them well as they pick up the spear and continue the fight for the emancipation of the downtrodden and marginalized people in our country," it said..So, What Now?.The decision by the EFF's Deputy President and another MP to 'jump ship' to the MK party may be the result of what is known as the 'VBS scandal.' The VBS bank, chaired by Tshifhiwa Matodzi, collapsed in 2018 after being looted for several years. An estimated $130 million was funneled out from the bank, having devastating effects on the nation's rural poor. After receiving a 495-year prison sentence under multiple charges, Matodzi, who will only serve 15 years in prison due to the sentences running concurrently, named both Julius Malema and Floyd Shimbavu in an affidavit alleging their involvement in the bank's looting.."The EFF constituencies were VBS's target market…I further informed them that VBS was willing to offer a donation to the EFF. I then proposed that VBS can donate R5 million immediately once a bank account has been opened at VBS and R1 million per month to the EFF. I also made it clear that the amount could only be deposited into a VBS account, and that the EFF should therefore open a bank account with VBS," the affidavit read..In essence, Matodzi alleges in his affidavit that VBS had paid large amounts to the EFF in return for the EFF not to use its 'political might' against the bank..However, the exodus of the EFF's top leadership to the MK may also result in a repairing of relations between MK leader Jacob Zuma and Malema. The pair have had a long and rocky relationship, with tensions rising since the EFF lost much of its support base to the MK in May.
Floyd Shimbavu, the Deputy President of South Africa's Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party has resigned from his role and joined Jacob Zuma's Umkhonto WeSizwe (MK) party..In his resignation, Shimbavu claimed, "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," pointing towards a possible repairing of the relationship between the two parties whose relations have ebbed and flowed..Noting his acceptance of Shimbavu's resignation, Julius Malema–the leader of the EFF–likened the pain of Shimbavu's resignation to the pain he felt when his mother passed away..'When he sent me a letter yesterday, I felt the same pain when I received the news of the passing away of my mother because Floyd to me is not just a comrade. He is a brother and he will remain a brother even when he pursues his political career differently," said Malema..What You Need to Know.Annoucing his exit from the party during a press briefing held at the EFF's headquarters in Johannesburg on Thursday, Shimbavu requested to be immediately released from his duties as a party member, including his position as a Parliamentarian..Assuming the role of Deputy President of the Party in mid-2013, it is thought that many EFF members loyal to Shimbavu will also make a move to join the MK party as the EFF's leadership struggles–brought on through their dismal polling during the May 2024 Presidential election.."Floyd is not the only one. Jimmy Manyi has also resigned to go and join MK. There will be many others who are going to leave the EFF because they have got their loyalty and support to the deputy president," said Malema..The country's recent election shook up the South African political space, with the ANC–who had ruled uninterrupted since 1994–failing to gain more than 50 percent of the vote, forcing it to establish a government of national unity..The political shake up also affected the nation's traditional opposition parties, with the MK party, which was only established in late 2023, unseating the EFF from its position as the country's major opposition party..In a letter sent out by MK party representatives, the party pushed its members to welcome the incoming former EFF MPs, "as leadership, we ask that all members of uMkhonto Wesizwe Party welcome these two progressive comrades as they begin to form part of driving the agenda of the revolution. We wish them well as they pick up the spear and continue the fight for the emancipation of the downtrodden and marginalized people in our country," it said..So, What Now?.The decision by the EFF's Deputy President and another MP to 'jump ship' to the MK party may be the result of what is known as the 'VBS scandal.' The VBS bank, chaired by Tshifhiwa Matodzi, collapsed in 2018 after being looted for several years. An estimated $130 million was funneled out from the bank, having devastating effects on the nation's rural poor. After receiving a 495-year prison sentence under multiple charges, Matodzi, who will only serve 15 years in prison due to the sentences running concurrently, named both Julius Malema and Floyd Shimbavu in an affidavit alleging their involvement in the bank's looting.."The EFF constituencies were VBS's target market…I further informed them that VBS was willing to offer a donation to the EFF. I then proposed that VBS can donate R5 million immediately once a bank account has been opened at VBS and R1 million per month to the EFF. I also made it clear that the amount could only be deposited into a VBS account, and that the EFF should therefore open a bank account with VBS," the affidavit read..In essence, Matodzi alleges in his affidavit that VBS had paid large amounts to the EFF in return for the EFF not to use its 'political might' against the bank..However, the exodus of the EFF's top leadership to the MK may also result in a repairing of relations between MK leader Jacob Zuma and Malema. The pair have had a long and rocky relationship, with tensions rising since the EFF lost much of its support base to the MK in May.
