The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK Party) made its debut in December 2023, quickly making waves in South African politics. Despite its rapid rise, the party, led by former president Jacob Zuma, has faced significant controversy.
Much of the party’s turmoil is linked to internal conflicts and Zuma’s ongoing legal issues. Recently, Floyd Shivambu, a former member of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), was appointed as the MK Party’s secretary-general.
On Sunday afternoon, Shivambu publicly expressed gratitude for his new role, calling it a “great honour” and acknowledging the confidence placed in him by President Jacob Zuma. He said, “It brings a deep sense of humility to be entrusted with such an important responsibility.”
Shivambu’s appointment is notable because he is the fifth person to hold the position in just 11 months since the party’s formation.
The move has sparked mixed reactions across South Africa. One point of discussion among social media users is the high turnover rate in the party’s leadership, with many questioning the stability of a party that has already appointed six different secretaries-general in less than a year. A user on X (formerly Twitter) remarked, “8 months old, already appointed 6 secretary generals. Red flags.”
Some responded with a historical perspective, recalling how Zuma himself was known for making surprise cabinet reshuffles during his presidency. Others, however, viewed the appointment as a positive development, with one user commenting, “MK Party won here, Floyd Shivambu is a key to a better future.”
The appointment also sparked a broader conversation about South African politics. One user speculated, “Who would have thought that Floyd Shivambu would be closer to becoming South Africa’s president than Julius Malema? All this changed in just a couple of months. Life is interesting.”
However, some expressed disappointment, particularly over the sidelining of Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, the EFF Commissar, who holds a PhD. One critic wrote, “PhD-holder Mbuyiseni Ndlozi watching Floyd Shivambu rise to national prominence, while Malema only sees him as a choir leader and errand boy.”
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