Floyd Shivambu has slyly dared uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party leader Jacob Zuma to axe him from the organisation, after the former secretary-general announced tentative steps towards the formation of a new political party.
On Thursday afternoon, Shivambu briefed the media in Johannesburg, revealing that he would be embarking on a countrywide consultative process – speaking to religious leaders and football club owners – to gauge whether an appetite exists among South Africans for a new entrant into electoral politics.
Section 5 of MK Party constitution
However, this move to consult ahead of the formation of what would ostensibly be the MK Party’s competition for votes, is at odds with section 5 (membership) of the Zuma-led party’s constitution, a document drafted by Shivambu himself.
“Save for highly exceptional and strategic circumstances and with the approval of the National Officials and the High Command, members of MKP are not allowed to be members of another political party, except organisations in formal alliances with the MKP,” the party’s constitution reads.
On Wednesday evening, the MK Party’s spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela distanced the party from Shivambu’s press conference, a clear sign that the party’s leadership had not given Shivambu their approval to go on his new-party consultation tour.
Probed by a journalist at the Thursday briefing about the “dual membership” conundrum, and that he may be in contravention of the MK Party’s constitution, Shivambu let the mask of cordiality slip.
‘I will never resign,’ says Shivambu
“I have not resigned from uMkhonto weSizwe,” adding that he would never resign from the party he joined 10 months ago, when he defected from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
Shivambu then reiterated the party’s stance on dual membership and the constitutional guidelines.
“If uMkhonto weSizwe [Party] believes that going to listen to the people violates the constitution, it [the party] will tell me that… ‘listening to the people is a violation of the constitution’,” Shivambu said.
“I will not resign,” Shivambu repeated, in what sounds like a “you will have to push me, but I will not jump” strategy – a tiny sign that not all is rosy between him and the octogenarian he has “tremendous respect for”.
Shivambu’s move to start a new political entity, thus making him a member of two political parties, is not dissimilar to Zuma’s own membership wrangle with the African National Congress (ANC).
As recently as January 2025, Zuma was threatening the ANC with legal action if the liberation party did not restore his membership. The former ANC president was expelled from the party in November 2025 after he was found guilty of misconduct because he started the MK Party.
If Zuma – who Shivambu described as “gullible” on Thursday – can be a member of two political parties, why can’t I? Shivambu could ask.
How long before Zuma terminates Shivambu’s membership of the MK Party?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
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