UMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party Secretary-General Floyd Shivambu has described former President Jacob Zuma’s decision to form the party as a pivotal moment in South Africa’s political landscape, crediting Zuma’s leadership as an inspiration for his own political realignment.
Speaking at the MK Party’s gala dinner at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Reconciliation Day - the one year anniversary of the party's founding - Shivambu praised Zuma for showing the “boldness” to leave the African National Congress (ANC) after decades of service.
The gala dinner, which followed the party’s first-year anniversary celebration on Sunday, marked an opportunity for the MK Party to solidify its rising influence and attract investment.
“None of us could believe that President Zuma would take such a bold decision to start an organisation, leaving behind one he served for more than 60 years.
That was one of the boldest actions, and it is why some of us didn’t hesitate to leave a 10-year-old organisation,” Shivambu said, referencing his exit from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) earlier this year.
Shivambu co-founded the EFF alongside Julius Malema in 2013 but officially announced his departure in August. His comments suggest that Zuma’s break from the ANC in December 2023 provided a model for those who sought “a just and revolutionary cause.”
“We saw that for the right reasons, sacrifices must be made,” Shivambu added. “That is the courage President Zuma showed us.”
The MK Party’s rapid emergence as a political force has reshaped the South African political scene. Addressing attendees, Shivambu emphasized the party’s significant performance in the May 29 elections, where it garnered over two million votes, positioning it as the third-largest party in the country.
“Let us thank the voters of South Africa, especially here in KwaZulu-Natal, for their confidence in the MK Party. Within just six months, we have achieved what many thought impossible,” said Shivambu.
He went on to highlight the MK Party’s position as one of only two “black political parties” whose support is counted in the millions.
“The MK Party and the outgoing ruling party [ANC] are the only political organisations that can claim this level of support. This is a clear sign of the voters’ trust in our vision for a better South Africa,” he said.
Shivambu’s remarks came amid the backdrop of Zuma’s ongoing tensions with the ANC. In November, Zuma lost his appeal to overturn his expulsion from the party he had served for over 60 years. The ANC’s disciplinary committee found Zuma guilty of prejudicing the party’s reputation by launching the MK Party, a move deemed incompatible with ANC objectives.
Despite the expulsion, Zuma’s influence appears undiminished, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal, where the MK Party has established itself as a dominant force.
“President Zuma has shown us that leadership requires courage, even when it means going against the tide. He has committed himself to a new path that resonates with millions of South Africans,” Shivambu said.
Shivambu’s praise for Zuma reinforced the narrative of the MK Party as a movement for change, rooted in Zuma’s political legacy but forging its own path.
“We are here because of President Zuma’s vision. His bold step has given all of us the courage to build something new,” Shivambu concluded.
As the MK Party looks ahead, the combination of Zuma’s enduring influence and Shivambu’s strategic leadership signals a formidable challenge to South Africa’s established political order.
IOL politics