The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) says Floyd Shivambu and Mzwanele Manyi joining the party could not have come at a better time.
The party said it welcomed the decision by the “astute and well-experienced leaders” to resign from the EFF and join them on Thursday.
MKP spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela said the “politically experienced comrades” would further strengthen the agenda of the progressive caucus.
“Manyi and Shivambu will be deployed respectively, according to their strengths and expertise. As leadership, we ask that all members of MKP 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 marginalised people in our country,” said Ndhlela.
Shivambu announced his resignation from the Red Berets during an urgent media conference at Winnie Madikizela Mandela House in Johannesburg. Reading a letter, Shivambu said the chairperson of ward 44 Johannesburg informed him that his membership of the EFF had 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 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,” said Shivambu.
“I cherish and appreciate the work that we collectively did in the EFF and building a formidable organisation. I believe the aspirations and vision contained in the organisational redesign document of the EFF can still be achieved.
“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.
“I have never in my service of the organisation acted outside its democratic and revolutionary decisions, discipline and practice. I have served with humility and discipline. I will never abandon the cause for economic emancipation and true freedom in our lifetime. I will never compromise my commitment to true emancipation and Marxist Leninist ideological lenses to view and understand society.”
He then announced that he had joined MKP and said he did not want to discuss that party at the Winnie Madikizela Mandela House meeting.
Accepting his resignation, EFF leader Julius Malema said: “We accept Shivambu’s resignation. He is not the only one; Manyi has also resigned. There will be many others who are going to leave the EFF, because they have got the loyalty and support of the deputy president. Fighters on the ground should be prepared for more people to follow and this should not serve as a point of collapse of the EFF. This is a testing moment.”
He said the EFF must pass this test or it would have to die: “We as members and leaders of EFF, we are going to defend (and) make sure it lives for generations to come,” he said.
Malema said he never heard about a contest between him and Shivambu, adding that it was rumours.
“Painful as it is, we have to accept it. It came as a shock. Some leaders shed tears. We must accept it. There are reports that Shivambu met with Zuma on Monday in KwaZulu-Natal,” said Malema.
Shivambu said he did not entertain rumours.
“Even if people spread false things about what happened, what didn’t happen; I don’t have time for that. I deal with politics and political content on issues how to shape society. How do you build a progressive society that will benefit the black majority; that’s the agenda I’ll entertain,” said Shivambu.
Malema confirmed that Manyi, who joined the party last year and was recently sworn in as an EFF MP, also jumped ship to join the MKP.