Shivambu praises Zuma for ‘leaving’ ANC and finding MK Party

UMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party secretary-general Floyd Shivambu says it was bold of Jacob Zuma to leave the African National Congress (ANC) and find the MKP.

Shivambu said this during the gala dinner the party hosted on Monday, 16 December, to mark its first anniversary.

SHIVAMBU PRAISES ZUMA FOR FINDING MK PARTY

Shivambu told attendees that several people could not believe the MK Party’s announcement. He also said that it was bold of Zuma to start an organisation and leave the ANC, which he had served for over 60 years.

“That was one of the boldest action. That is why even some of us did not even have an iota of fear to leave just a 10-year-old organisation [EFF], because we had seen that for a just and revolutionary cause anything else has to be done correctly,” Shivambu said.

Shivambu ditched the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) he co-founded with Julius Malema in August.

Further, Shivambu said the MK Party and the ANC are the only two black parties in the country whose votes are counted in millions.

“Let us take an opportunity as well to thank the voters of South Africa here in KwaZulu-Natal and all the provinces for giving their confidence to the MK Party within six months of its existence.

“The MK Party is one of the two black political parties in South Africa whose votes can be counted in millions. So, there’s no other political party except the outgoing ruling party and MK Party which can say we are voted and supported by millions of people,” he said.

The Jacob Zuma-led party emerged as the third biggest political party in South Africa in the 29 May elections. The party received over two million votes and secured 58 seats in Parliament.

ZUMA LOSES BID TO APPEAL HIS EXPULSION FROM ANC

In November, Zuma said he will consult with his legal representatives after the ANC national disciplinary committee of appeal upheld the decision to expel him from the party.

The South African previously reported that earlier this year, the ANC charged and suspended Zuma for contravening the party’s rules when he launched the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party [which he currently leads] on 16 December 2023 in Orlando, Soweto. His disciplinary hearing was held virtually in July where he was represented by ANC outcast Tony Yengeni.

The ANC national disciplinary committee (NDC) found Zuma “guilty of contravening Rule 25 of the ANC constitution for prejudicing the integrity or repute of the organisation by acting in collaboration with a registered political party, to wit the uMkhonto weSizwe Party, which is not in alliance with the ANC, in a manner contrary to the aims, policies, and objectives of the ANC.”

In a statement, the foundation said Zuma strongly rejects the notion that the ANC under President Cyril Ramaphosa’s leadership has the authority to expel him from the movement he has dedicated his life to.

“In the coming days, Zuma will consult with his legal team and ANC representative Tony Yengeni, his family, political comrades to deliberate on the way forward. Once a decision has been reached, it will be communicated to the nation by Zuma.”

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT FLOYD SHIVAMBU’S SENTIMENTS?

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