The MK Party has no plans to replace its newly appointed chief whip Colleen Makhubele with dethroned secretary-general Floyd Shivambu, who is due to be sworn-in as an MP this week.
MK Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndlela said on Saturday Makhubele would remain in the post, not least because the party wanted to promote women’s rights.
“We have just appointed a chief whip so part of what we are saying and we want to demonstrate is gender parity. That is one the reasons that choice was made to bring her [Makhubela] on board,” he said.
Since Shivambu was removed as secretary-general on Tuesday, following his trip to Malawi and meeting with rape accused Shepherd Bushiri, there has been speculation about what his role would be in parliament.
Sources in the MK Party indicated that Shivambu was largely isolated during the meeting of the party’s top officials who unanimously decided to give him the boot.
Sources close to party leader Jacob Zuma said it was Zuma who wanted Shivambu to be redeployed to parliament.
Zuma had been livid that Shivambu had gone to the meeting with Bushiri, who fled South Africa to escape criminal charges, without informing the party.
When news of the meeting emerged, a defiant Shivambu sought to justify his actions, which the sources said had angered Zuma and other party leaders.
One insider said that when challenged by party colleagues, Shivambu refused to back down and apologise for lending support to a fugitive.
“His redeployment to parliament was a decision taken by the president and the president alone. I think he felt sorry for him. Floyd has sacrificed a lot to be part of this party and I think president Zuma knows that there is a way that this can be salvaged,” the insider said.
Shivambu has been in the firing line before. In February, Zuma’s daughter Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla attacked Shivambu on social media, accusing him of being divisive.
Shivambu is said to have lost favour with John Hlophe, the party deputy president and parliamentary leader, and the deputy chair, Nathi Nhleko.
This is after Shivambu is said to have changed the party’s proposed constitution without consultation.
Another insider said that Shivambu had stirred rancour by fashioning himself as Zuma’s heir at the head of the party.
“He was never the nucleus of this party, there is only one nucleus and that is Zuma. Before he came, we had a constitution and he came with his own constitution, which was fine, but there already was one,” the source said.
“The notion that the party will go to the dogs is ludicrous because the party operated well without him in his absence. Contrary to popular belief, the MK Party is doing well in parliament. It’s punching above its weight so we don’t need a Floyd.”
The insider added that with Shivambu having left the secretariat, the party’s leaders now have an opportunity to mend relations with the EFF.
“The EFF was not mad at the MK Party, it was mad at Floyd. When Julius [Malema] was angry and declared the MK Party was the enemy, it was not about the party, it was about Floyd. This decision now changes the complexion of that relationship. We will be able to work together, even as soon as this budget vote,” the insider said.
The vote on finance minister Enoch Godongwana’s fiscal framework is scheduled for this week.
It is understood that Zuma-Sambudla is among those who want the two parties to bury the hatchet and strengthen opposition in parliament opposed to the GNU.
The MK Party was instrumental in eroding ANC support in the elections last year, obtaining 58 seats in parliament. So far it has filled only 50 of those seats. Another eight MPs are expected to be appointed by June 13.
The list of incoming MPs is said to include former South African Revenue Service commissioner Tom Moyane.
MK Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndlela said the party was planning to onboard new members to boost its capacity as official opposition ahead of the vote on the fiscal framework.
The eight new members will be sworn in during the next window, which opened on Friday.
Ndlela said the adjusted list of MPs would be handed to parliament on Monday.
“At this point, we can’t afford not to have those seats filled particularly because there is going to be a vote for the fiscal framework.”
Ndlela added that the party has identified South Africans who it believes will represent the electorate. He said the party was gearing up its parliamentary machinery to challenge the GNU's neoliberal programmes and policies.
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