by Dr Thabisi Hoeane

It would be rash, if not outright irresponsible, to immediately conclude what motivated Floyd Shivambu and Mzwanele Manyi’s resignations from the EFF to join the MKP. Time will tell.

The reasons cannot be ideological as both, now and in the past, have indicated that the MKP and EFF are not far apart.

What is their real reason? The only conclusion that can be drawn in the interim is the ominous reputation the MKP is projecting.

The fact is that behind that façade of radicalism is a deep secret of being populated by characters attracted to the MKP because they want to shield themselves from the malfeasance they might have been involved in the past.

Manyi, let it not be forgotten, has a latent cloud over his head regarding his dubious association with that corrupt Gupta family and, he is just a Zuma man and will follow him wherever he goes.

More serious is the issue regarding Shivambu. This comes after the scandal broke that there is a strong possibility that he was part of the looters of the VBS.

In as much as the canary Matodzi, who is singing left, right and centre about VBS, met both Julius Malema and Shivambu, it is clear that Shivambu played a big part in this alleged corruption, where the bank account of his brother Brian is alleged to have been used to launder VBS funds to the EFF.

So in this context, Shivambu is doing nothing but to run to fellow travellers in the MKP for shelter. Right from Zuma downwards, many prominent MK leaders are tainted and face the reality of going to jail.

So prudently, Shivambu has thrown his lot in with the MKP, not because of dissatisfaction with the EFF, but to hedge his bets that the MKP will grow in strength, and under the radical populist rhetoric stave off accusations of corruption against him and its other leaders.

* DR THABISI HOEANE, Pretoria.

** The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Media.

The Star