Two prominent members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have left the party to join the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, associated with former president Jacob Zuma.
Mzwanele Manyi, a member of Parliament, and Floyd Shivambu, the EFF’s deputy president, both announced their departures on Thursday, causing a shake-up to the Party led by Julius Malema.
The MK Party confirmed their arrival in a statement, welcoming the decision and describing them as “astute and well experienced leaders”.
It said the two would be “deployed respectively according to their strengths and expertise” and that their joining would “strengthen the agenda of the Progressive Caucus”.
The EFF, founded in 2013 by Julius Malema, has been a significant force in South African politics, positioning itself as a radical, far-left party. It has become the third-largest party in the National Assembly.
Mr Malema, who remains the party’s leader, formed the EFF after his expulsion from the African National Congress (ANC) in 2012. The party advocates for policies such as land expropriation without compensation and the nationalisation of key industries.
The departure of Mr Shivambu, a key figure in the EFF’s leadership, represents a significant loss for the party.
This development, along with Mr Manyi’s exit, may have implications for the EFF’s structure and support base ahead of South Africa’s upcoming general election.
This move represents a significant shift in the country’s political landscape, with two high-profile figures leaving one of the main opposition parties for a newer political entity.
