Tensions continue to rise in the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, with former EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu finding himself at the center of internal power struggles. Amid these challenges, ANC Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe has jokingly advised the EFF to “fetch” Shivambu, suggesting that his new political home is turning hostile.
Mantashe’s Playful Jab at the EFF
Speaking to EFF MPs on the sidelines of the State of the Nation Address (SONA) debate on Tuesday in Cape Town, Mantashe quipped:
“Fetch Floyd [from MKP], it’s bad. Bring him back to EFF, it’s bad where he is.”
Shivambu left the EFF in 2024 to join the MK Party, where he was appointed secretary-general. However, his transition has been far from smooth, with reports suggesting that newcomers in the party are sidelining longstanding members, causing significant divisions.
Floyd Shivambu vs. Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla
A major source of tension has been Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla’s public attacks on Shivambu. The daughter of former President Jacob Zuma has repeatedly criticized Shivambu, calling him “the worst thing that happened to the MK Party” and even using profanities against him on social media.
“F%* you,”* Zuma-Sambudla wrote in one of her posts, signaling the extent of hostility between the two.
Shivambu has also been accused of attempting to place former EFF members in key MKP positions, further exacerbating factional disputes within the party.
Zuma-Sambudla’s Forced Apology
Despite her aggressive criticism, Zuma-Sambudla was reportedly forced to apologize to Shivambu after her father, Jacob Zuma, intervened. Faced with potential expulsion or termination of her membership, she issued a statement acknowledging her mistake.
“While I hold strong and personal views, including serious concerns about internal party matters, I fully recognise that such concerns should have been, and shall be, addressed through the proper internal channels.”
However, many believe her apology was only directed at her father rather than Shivambu himself. Adding to the controversy, her attacks on Shivambu remain visible on her social media platforms, leading some MKP members to demand her suspension for bringing the party into disrepute.
A Power Struggle Within the MK Party?
Shivambu’s leadership has sparked internal tensions, with some members accusing him of consolidating power by favoring ex-EFF allies. This has fueled speculation that new entrants to the party are overpowering veterans, creating deep divisions.
While MKP’s internal battles are far from over, Mantashe’s remark highlights a broader political reality—Shivambu’s move from the EFF to MKP has not been as smooth as expected.
With elections looming and political tensions running high, it remains to be seen whether Shivambu can survive the power struggles within his new political home or if the EFF will indeed “fetch” him back.
