Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) senior leader Mogoeng Mogoeng has sharply criticized Floyd Shivambu following his defection to the uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) Party. Speaking during a public address, Mogoeng dismissed Shivambu’s influence within the EFF and his attempt to rally party members to follow him as ineffective and misguided.
“Floyd really thought we were going to leave the EFF and follow him. But we didn’t, and now he’s stranded. Even Jacob Zuma doesn’t trust him anymore because he’s seen as weak,” Mogoeng stated.
Shivambu, formerly the EFF’s deputy president, shocked the political landscape when he resigned and joined the MK Party, a move widely seen as a bid to challenge the EFF’s grip on younger voters and those seeking alternatives to mainstream politics.
However, according to Mogoeng, Shivambu’s strategy has faltered. “What Zuma thought Floyd could deliver, he didn’t. Now it’s chai [finished]. He promised a wave of defections, but the EFF remains strong,” he added.
Reports suggest that tensions have arisen between Shivambu and former president Jacob Zuma, who initially welcomed Shivambu’s move as a potential boost for the MK Party. Insiders claim Zuma has grown skeptical of Shivambu’s political influence after his failure to secure significant defections from the EFF.
The EFF leadership, including party president Julius Malema, has seized the moment to underscore the party’s unity and focus. Malema previously remarked that the EFF remains undeterred by the departure of individuals prioritizing “personal ambitions.”
Analysts view Shivambu’s defection as a gamble that has yet to pay off. The MK Party’s attempt to position itself as a formidable alternative to established players may lose momentum if Shivambu cannot rebuild his credibility and deliver tangible results.
As the political dynamics shift, Shivambu’s ability to regain trust and influence within the MK Party and among voters will determine whether his move was a calculated risk or a strategic blunder.