Julius Malema’s second in command has resigned as the EFF’s deputy president and joined South Africa’s former President Jacob Zuma’s Mkhonto weSizwe party.
Shivambu who founded the EFF with Malema in 2013 announced his resignation at a press briefing held on August 15 in the presence of the EFF’s top 6.
Floyd Shivambu’s resignation letter.
Greetings Comrade President,
The Chairperson of Ward 44 Johannesburg has informed me that my membership of the EFF has lapsed. Please be informed that I will not renew my membership of the EFF in Ward 44 which is one of the best performing Wards of the EFF in Johannesburg region.
I also request to resign my position as Member of Parliament and all positions I hold in the EFF. I will only do so after receiving a go ahead from the organisation because it is the EFF that deployed me to Parliament.
I cherish and appreciate the work that we collectively did in the EFF and building a formidable organisation. I believe the aspirations and vision contained in the Organisational Redesign document of the EFF can still be achieved.
My non renewal of membership of the EFF is not a vote of no confidence in the organisation, but a revolutionary act that will allow Progressive Forces to unite and work towards the agenda for progressive and revolutionary change.
I have never in my service of the organisation acted outside its democratic and revolutionary decisions, discipline and practice. I have served with humility and discipline.
I will never abandon the cause for economic emancipation and true freedom in our lifetime. I will never compromise my commitment to true emancipation and Marxist Leninist ideological lenses to view and understand society.
I will not do or say anything that compromises the integrity of an organisation that we collectively founded. My sincere plea is that the in its reflection of the decision I have taken, the organisation should also avoid slander and mischaracterisation of an otherwise revolutionary and disciplined decision to not renew the membership and request to be released from other functions I am deployed to.
I am available to talk about the details of how we should collectively communicate the decision publicly so that it does not affect the integrity of the organisation.
We have over the years played an important role in shaping the politics of South Africa and the continent. We have all played our parts progressively and have no doubt that we will continue to do so.
I firmly believe that political decisions/d never be personalized and treated as betray of the cause and of individuals. You my and comrade and will always cherish the contributions we made in our Idure struggle for economic emancipation.
I wish the EFF full prosperity and success and wish that all the Commissars and Ground Forces will accept the very difficult decision I have taken.
The struggle and war for economic freedom will never be compromised by any individual decision. It has been ingrained in the hearts and minds of many people in South Africa and the entire continent.
Revolutionary regards and God Bless,
Gift Floyd Shivambu
Copied: Secretary General Commissar Marshall Dlamini and Central Command Team
A visibly disappointed Malema spoke at the press briefing saying
I stand before you to accept the decision of the Deputy President of the EFF, who has voluntarily resigned his positions, and did not renew his membership.
When he sent me a letter yesterday, I felt the same pain, when I received the news of the passing away of my Mother because Floyd [Shivambu] to me is not just a Comrade. He is a Brother, and he will remain a Brother even when he pursues his Political career differently.
The Constitution of the EFF DOES NOT allow people to resign and join other Political parties, and come back to the Party. BUT I HAVE MADE THIS OFFER TO FLOYD, that the day you decide to come back, YOU ARE MORE THAN WELCOME
Floyd [Shivambu] is NOT the only one. Jimmy Manyi has also resigned to go and join MK. There will be many others who are going to leave the EFF because they have got their loyalty and support to the Deputy President.
Fighters on the ground SHOULD BE PREPARED for more people to follow, and this should not serve as a point of collapse for the EFF
This is a testing moment. An organization that has lived beyond 10-years has never been through this testing moment. THE EFF WILL HAVE TO PASS THIS TEST…
This is not the end, it’s a beginning of a journey because we have turned 10-years, and this is a new Chapter for the EFF
We wish DP all of success, we know that wherever he is going, he is going to be of value. We have lost a valuable member as the EFF but the show continues.
uMkhonto Wesizwe Party spokesperson Nhlamu Ndhla released a press statement welcoming Floyd Shivambu and Mzwanele Manyi to the party.
uMkhonto Wesizwe Party confirms that Cde. Mzwanele Manyi and Cde. Floyd Shivambu have joined the Party. The uMkhonto Wesizwe Party welcomes the decision by these astute and well experienced leaders as it could not have come at a better time.
The onboarding of both these progressive and politically experienced comrades will further strengthen the agenda of the Progressive Caucus.
Cde. Manyi and Cde. Shivambu will be deployed respectively according to their strengths and expertise. As leadership, we ask that all members of uMkhonto Wesizwe Party welcome these two progressive comrades as they begin to form part of driving the agenda of the revolution.
We wish them well as they pick up the spear and continue the fight for the emancipation of the downtrodden and marginalised people in our country.
ENQUIRIES:
Nhlamu Ndhla
Head: Media and Communications Contact mobile: 079 230 3345
Sipho Tyra
Manager: Media and Communications (Parliament)
Contact Mobile: 084 374 4316
EFF Student Command press statement on the resignation of EFF Deputy President Floyd Nyiko Shivambu
The Economic Freedom Fighters Students’ Command (EFFSC) notes the voluntary resignation of the founding Deputy President of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Commissar Floyd Nyiko Shivambu.
It goes without saying that the Deputy President of the EFF has played a pivotal role in the formative stages of the 26 July Movement in South Africa. His intellectual and ideological astuteness has been a guiding light for many young activists and leaders of our vanguard movement.
It is our leaders who taught us that on Tuesday, 11 June 2013, a Clarion Call was made to all Economic Freedom Fighters and all South Africans committed to real change to, “STAND UP, AND BE COUNTED.”
It is on that day that the youth of South Africa rose from its slumber and years of pollical lull, and uncompromisingly associated itself with the EFF.
The Clarion Call of the EFF stated clearly and categorically that the former liberation movement, the African National Congress (ANC), will never be a solution for the developmental problems of South Africa, particularly due to its ideological and political ERS inconsistencies.
Its integrity would decline, and that all other opposition parties would only oppose the ANC on superficial issues.
The combination of the Communist Party of South Africa and Trade Union movement aligned to the ANC would inevitably be swallowed into politics of reform, and all those pushing a radical agenda would be suppressed and isolated.
Furthermore, political apathy would increase, more so among the youth. Victimization of those opposed to the status quo would intensify and the middle class would drift away from left politics to the benefit of the racist Democratic Alliance (DA).
The Carion Call also foresaw the relegation of social movements to the margins of mainstream politics, adding no meaningful value to electoral power.
Service delivery protests would intensify, and any form of uprising would be harshly suppressed by State machinery. Disgruntlement among the youth would increase, whilst government leaders and officials continue to openly loot state resources.
It is this observation, among many, made in 2013, which gave birth to a generation of Economic Freedom Fighters who voluntarily answered the call to STAND UP AND BE COUNTED.
It is this generation which aligned itself with the seven (7) Non-negotiable Cardinal Pillars of the EFF, and committed to, “FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, SIDE BY SIDE, THROUGHOUT OUR LIVES, UNTIL WE HAVE WON OUR (ECONOMIC) LIBERTY.”
This commitment to never leave, surrender, retreat nor betray each other until the realisation of Economic Freedom is emphasised in the Founding Manifesto of the EFF.
The formation and establishment of the Students’ Command of the EFF, in 2015, was an extension of this call and commitment to the struggle of Economic Freedom in South Africa.
The number one (1) founding principle of the EFFSC is the mobilisation of young people behind the struggle for Economic Freedom embodied in the founding manifesto of the EFF.
The overwhelming support and popularity of the EFFSC in institutions of higher learning, and its showing in the most recent general elections, demonstrates this undying love and commitment to the aims and objectives of the EFF.
As we approach the next wave of Student Representative Council (SRC) Elections, we call on all our members and structures to use this moment to close ranks and consolidate our gains towards victory.
This is a moment to mobilise and organise not wallow in despair. The majority of members and supporters of the EFFSC know no other political home other than the EFF. They were introduced into politics in and by the EFF.
We will continue to agitate the students of South Africa behind the banner of the EFF. We have answered the call to STAND UP AND BE COUNTED. We refuse to sell-out. We refuse to betray this generational mission.
There is enough evidence to prove that the EFF is an organisation which has now surpassed all the brands of its individual leaders. We, therefore, have a responsibility to protect our movement and dare not betray the people of South Africa and future generations.
We restate our devotion to the Commander in Chief, and the uncompromising collective leadership of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). We must be vigilant and beware of wedge-drivers, who creep from ear to ear. We must defend the EFF against provocateurs, enemy agents, and enemy propaganda in whatever form it takes.
All members and structures of the EFFSC must intensify the Mass Student Recruitment Campaign, without distraction. We are the future, no one can stop us. No surrender, no retreat!
ISSUED BY THE EFF STUDENTS COMMAND
Khanya Bungane (EFFSC Acting Secretary General): 067 004 4382
Masixole Mabhongo (Communications & Information Officer): 073 511 2952
Asemahle Ntumntum (Media Liaison): 071 623 6623
effsc4nsa@gmail.com
