“I said I would die in the ANC” because I was respecting the ancestors who started the organisation, says Jacob Zuma.
Last month, Zuma was expelled from the ANC after being found guilty of misconduct due to starting the MK Party and eating away at the ANC’s voter base.
Jacob Zuma says new recruit Floyd Shivambu is a consummate politician, “honest and clear”.
When Shivambu was expelled from the ANC, along with EFF leader Julius Malema in 2013, Zuma was the president of the ANC.
MK Party leader Jacob Zuma says the media needs to congratulate the party for what it has achieved in its early stages, becoming South Africa’s third-biggest party, instead of focusing on its organisational shortcomings.
John Hlophe, MK Party deputy president, dismisses that notion that the MK Party recruited Floyd Shivambu to destroy the EFF.
“Floyd is sharp like a razor,” former judge tells the media. Hlophe says Shivambu has been appointed national organiser “based on merit”.
“Fiefdoms of individuals.”
Shivambu takes a swipe at the EFF and Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), implying that are they parties centred around personality cults.
EFF is led by Julius Malema and IFP was led for decades by the late Mangosuthu Buthelezi. It is now led by Velenkosini Hlabisa.
“The liberation movement no longer exists,” says Shivambu, referencing the ANC.
Shivambu is a former member of the ANC. He was expelled in 2013, along with EFF leader Julius Malema.
MK Party’s national high command is now taking questions from the media.
Nathi Nhleko has been announced as the MK Party’s national chairperson.
A former minister of police, he is widely known for his part in the “fire pool” saga that emanated from Zuma’s Nkandla upgrades, where state money was used to renovate the former president’s personal home.
Floyd Shivambu is the MK Party’s new national organiser. The former EFF deputy president left the Red Berets last week.
Other leaders are:
- Jacob Zuma – president
- John Hlophe – deputy president
- Sifiso Maseko – secretary-general
- Nombuso Mkhize – deputy secretary-general
- Nathi Nhleko – national chairperson
- Wilson Sebiloane deputy national chairperson
- Menzi Magubane – treasury-general
MK Party remains committed to working with the so-called Progressive Caucus in Parliament, as an opponent of the so-called government of national unity.
The caucus consists of MK Party, EFF, United Africans Transformation, African Transformation Movement and the National Coloured Congress
MK Party is not planning to hold elective conference, statement says, meaning leaders will be appointed by Jacob Zuma.
The party has been plagued by constant leadership changes since its formation in December 2023.
Last month, Arthur Zwane was fired as secretary-general, with Sifiso Maseko replacing him in the interim.
MK Party will have a top-eight leadership structure, along with 45 additional members.
The top eight leaderships positions are:
- President
- Deputy president
- Secretary-general
- Deputy secretary-general
- National chairperson
- Deputy national chairperson
- Treasury
- National organiser
An MK Party member is reading a statement supposedly penned by Jacob Zuma.
Part of it highlights that the party still believes, without evidence, that the 2024 elections were rigged.
However, they will still participate in Parliament, as their members deserve to be represented, says the member.
Proceedings have started in Sandton, Johannesburg.
Jacob Zuma is seen sitting next to John Hlophe, who has been announced as the uMkhonto weSizwe Party’s deputy president.
Hlophe, who was Western Cape judge president before being impeached, also serves as MK Party’s leader in Parliament.
Former president of South Africa and current uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party leader Jacob Zuma is addressing the media “regarding the current political situation and ongoing developments in South Africa”.
Zuma’s address comes after former Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) deputy president Floyd Shivambu defected to MK Party last week.
Shivambu was joined by former EFF MP Mzwanele Manyi in the move to Zuma’s party. Manyi’s move was unsurprising, as he had been moonlighting as spokesperson of the Jacob Zuma Foundation while being a member of the EFF.
And on Wednesday, 10 MPs – dismissed from the party to allegedly make way for new members to join Parliament – challenged their axing at the Western Cape High Court.
WATCH THE MK PARTY LEADER ZUMA’S ADDRESS LIVE BELOW
