Former Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) deputy president Floyd Shivambu declared that his six-month stint with uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) under Jacob Zuma had been more instructive than over ten years leading the EFF. “I learned more as a member of uMkhonto WeSizwe than I did as the deputy president of the EFF,” Shivambu stated, drawing sharp criticism from his former colleagues.
Shivambu’s critique of the EFF was unequivocal. He dismissed the party as lacking room for sound ideological debate and echoed public commentators who had labeled it “a cult.” He argued that internal dynamics within the EFF had stifled meaningful discourse and that their model resembled a “small, unviable fiefdom.”
Though he sharply criticized his former party, Shivambu did not spare the ruling African National Congress (ANC). He described it as directionless and too entangled with white economic interests, underscoring his growing disappointment with South Africa’s major political players.
Shivambu traced his personal evolution directly to MK’s structure. Since joining in August 2024, he quickly rose to a significant leadership position, crediting MK’s principles—support for traditional leaders, bold land reform, and strong grassroots mobilisation as catalysts for his accelerated growth
Despite being appointed MK’s secretary-general in November 2024, Shivambu was dismissed in June 2025 amid factional infighting within the party. Shivambu countered these claims, stating that internal plotters had targeted him, but that he would remain loyal to the party and Zuma’s vision .
At the press conference, Shivambu emphasized that he has no plans to quit MK. Instead, he unveiled plans for a national consultative process aimed at forming a new political movement. He revealed intentions to engage church groups (including the ZCC and Nazareth Baptist Church), traditional leaders, and civic figures such as Patrice Motsepe, Irvin Khoza, and Kaizer Motaung . He stressed the need for a non-personality-driven, ideologically grounded coalition.
A political analyst noted this constitutes a bold repositioning: Shivambu is shedding the populist EFF narrative and rejecting MK’s infighting in favour of a fresh, more policy-oriented path. But with MK’s identity still tethered to Zuma and ongoing internal unrest, the viability of Shivambu’s vision remains uncertain.
