Floyd Shivambu launches scathing attack on MK Party leadership

Floyd Shivambu, the former secretary general of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK Party), has levelled serious allegations against party members, branding fellow MP Nhlamulo Ndhlela as an "imbecile" and a drug user.

Shivambu criticised Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, the daughter of former President Jacob Zuma, as being “directionless and gullible”.

The accusations come on the heels of Shivambu’s surprising exclusion from the party list designated for Parliament, raising questions about internal dynamics within the MK Party.

Shivambu, who once anticipated stepping into a parliamentary role, has found himself on the receiving end of party politics, having recently lost his secretary-general position.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with eNCA, he claimed that his contributions have been overlooked and that he is being unjustly targeted by a leadership that he does not regard as politically competent.

“Politically, I was far more qualitatively superior to all the people I found in the leadership of uMkhonto weSizwe,” Shivambu asserted, pointing to his experience co-founding the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and driving political conversation in South Africa.

In his fervent critique, Shivambu maintained that his political presence and insight had elevated the MK Party's status nationally.

He suggested that some party members felt threatened by his influence, leading to a “paranoia” that has manifestly sidelined him.

“There was a fear that perhaps I was overshadowing their contributions,” he explained.

This increasingly contentious relationship with party leadership has now culminated in a fierce public spat.

Shivambu did not shy away from attacking Ndhlela directly, labelling him an “imbecile” and claiming he is frequently under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

His accusations extend to Ndhlela’s alleged manipulation of Jacob Zuma regarding party matters, asserting the MP uses the former President’s daughter to relay misinformation.

Ndhlela, responding to these incendiary remarks in an interview with IOL News, depicted Shivambu as “clearly wounded” and desperate to deflect blame for his recent ousting. He countered accusations by revealing that Shivambu had attempted to usurp party structures in a bid to consolidate power before he was removed.

“He knew he was gone. We’ve long suspected he was an agent in our midst,” Ndhlela claimed, asserting that the party member’s dismissal was met with widespread approval amongst his colleagues.

Moreover, he expressed intent to pursue legal action against Shivambu, insisting that he would seek a public apology.

Throughout this turmoil, Shivambu declared his ongoing allegiance to the MK Party while also revealing plans to consult the public on establishing a new political movement, reflecting what he described as failures of current parties to represent the will of the majority of South Africans.

“We believe current political parties are not adequate instruments to represent the majority of South Africans in the politics of true emancipation and liberation,” he explained.

The fallout from this confrontation highlights deeper fractures within the MK Party, thrusting the personal disputes of its members into the political spotlight.

As Shivambu embarks on this new political journey, the party must navigate the repercussions of these damning allegations and the potential impact on its future.

DAILY NEWS