EFF leader Julius Malema and his now former deputy Floyd Shivambu clashed over cushy positions in the government of national unity (GNU), leading to a dramatic falling out and the end of their long-standing political relationship this week.
Well-placed sources in the EFF, the ANC and the MK Party told the Sunday Times Shivambu’s resentment began building when he discovered Malema had scuppered the EFF’s prospects of joining the GNU, in which he could have served as deputy finance minister.
The bust-up between the two has dealt a further blow to the EFF, which did badly in the May elections, and has brought an abrupt end to one of the most notable political bromances in South African politics.
While Malema will get a new deputy when the EFF holds its elective conference in December, Shivambu is being tipped to be the future president of Jacob Zuma’s MK Party.
Sources disclosed Shivambu was also aggrieved when he discovered that, unbeknown to him, Malema had made direct contact with President Cyril Ramaphosa to demand the position of second deputy president for himself and the deputy speakership for another party member — while he, Shivambu, was still in separate talks with ANC negotiators over a role for the EFF in the GNU.
Malema, because he was concerned about his own ego, pulled everyone out and the negotiations collapsed
— An insider
The revelations cast new light on the jockeying for positions in the GNU, in spite of Malema having previously roundly criticised the new government as the product of “white monopoly capital”.
The mixed messages from the EFF led to a deadlock between it and the ANC and the eventual collapse of their negotiations. Shivambu, who was also the party’s chief whip, felt Malema had betrayed and “disrespected” him, as he had been leading the party’s negotiating team during the GNU talks.
“What happened is that Floyd felt undermined and disrespected by Julius because, when he was negotiating with the ANC on the one side, Julius was busy undercutting him by going directly to the ANC president,” said an insider.
“This is what made Floyd blow his top and say, ‘But if, as the head of negotiations, I am agreeing with the ANC that I will be accommodated as deputy finance minister, why are you going and running parallel negotiations?’”
Another insider said Malema had arranged for EFF national chair Veronica Mente to take up the position of deputy speaker in the National Assembly — and changed his mind only after he failed to secure the second deputy president position.
“Floyd was in the running for deputy finance minister. The ANC was willing to consider him and the EFF negotiating team led by Floyd had negotiated these terms. But when [Malema] saw that [being appointed second deputy president] is not possible, he pulled everyone out.
“This pissed off Floyd because he knew this was the best way for the EFF to get into the government — but Malema, because he was concerned about his own ego, pulled everyone out and the negotiations collapsed.”
Malema had not responded to texts or calls at the time of publication.
When he was approached for comment, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula sought to downplay the matter, saying no specific positions had been discussed with the EFF.
But others familiar with the discussions insisted the ANC had been keen to have Shivambu as one of the deputy finance ministers — a position that has since gone to the DA.
But those close to Malema have defended him, denying he undermined Shivambu or selfishly negotiated for himself during the GNU talks.
They claimed ANC and EFF negotiators deadlocked and the ANC did not make any offers to the EFF. “The negotiators then asked him [Malema] to speak directly to the president,” one EFF source said.
What happened is that Floyd felt undermined and disrespected by Julius because, when he was negotiating with the ANC on the one side, Julius was busy undercutting him by going directly to the ANC president
— Anonymous EFF insider
The Sunday Times also understands that, to lure Shivambu into its ranks, Zuma and other MK Party leaders have promised him the position of party president as they prepare for their inaugural national conference.
In this arrangement, according to sources, current MK Party leader John Hlophe would be Shivambu’s deputy and Zuma would serve as the party’s national chair.
MK insiders said the party preferred a less stressful role for Zuma, because of his advanced age.
Shivambu is also said to have informed the EFF’s top leadership about his offer from the MK Party shortly before his stunning exit on Thursday.
“He claimed Zuma had promised to make him president and said he [Zuma] would be national chair. Floyd would also become the party’s parliamentary leader in the National Assembly,” said an insider.
“But he said he had refused those offers and accepted Zuma’s request that he write the MK Party’s policies and constitution,” said the source with intimate knowledge of the discussions that unfolded in the EFF after Shivambu’s dramatic exit.
When approached for comment yesterday, Shivambu denied he had defected because of the lure of plum positions.
“I did not join the MK Party for positions. I am an ordinary member and will remain an ordinary member,” he said. “I was not offered any position. I joined out of principle. I believe what we are busy within MKP is the most solid and revolutionary project in South Africa.”
The MK Party also wants Shivambu, who has a master’s degree in politics from Wits University and another in international development from University of London, to assist with the party’s policy formulation, set up internal structures, and help grow support outside its KwaZulu-Natal stronghold.
“We are planning to field Floyd in many critical MK positions, so that he plays a crucial role that suits his capacity,” said a senior MK Party insider.
“Floyd is a highly [capable] person who is good at research. He researches the content he is going to present to anyone. The guy is advanced [in his thinking] with everything, especially economic issues, [financial questions] and Reserve Bank monetary policies. The guy is so advanced we will deploy him anywhere we see fit.”
Shivambu was recruited to the MK Party by figures such as Magasela Mzobe. The two have been friends since their days in the ANC Youth League, and Mzobe recently had a brief stint in the EFF before he joined the MK Party.
“The MK Party has an influential cohort of former youth leaguers Floyd led, who have kept a relationship with [him] for years, and some of them, like Mzobe, were in the EFF. Those are the people who acted as intermediaries between uBaba and Floyd, [enabling] this deal to come through,” said an MK Party leader close to Zuma.
“What the MK Party gives Floyd is a blank slate to shape his political future, away from the shadow of Julius. He knows he is capable and with MKP conferences ahead, he will be elected with the support of people such as Mzobe. That is what they have promised him — the presidency [ultimately], while he gets [to be] chief whip in the National Assembly in the meantime.”
Insiders also said Shivambu was unimpressed when he learnt Malema was supported moves for EFF secretary-general Marshall Dlamini to challenge him as deputy president at the Red Berets’ national conference in December.
Dlamini — a wealthy businessperson from KwaZulu-Natal — and Malema have become close over the past few years, with the EFF leader crediting him as a good organiser and grassroots mobiliser.
But those sympathetic to Malema said Shivambu’s position in the EFF had never been under threat. Some said Malema had even asked Dlamini not to contest the position, in a bid to convince Shivambu not to leave. However, Shivambu was steadfast in his decision to quit the party.
“Floyd joined the MK Party purely for his own political advancement, because in the EFF he would never be president. Even his prospects of remaining deputy were uncertain come December, with Marshall Dlamini challenging him for deputy,” said an EFF insider.
Shivambu’s exit came after months of speculation about his relationship with Malema.
The outgoing EFF leader had also been unhappy at the way Malema recalled him from KwaZulu-Natal earlier this year, where he had been sent to troubleshoot leadership divisions. Malema did so because he apparently felt Shivambu had failed in his task.
Malema’s former ally was blamed for the disappointing turnout when the EFF held its manifesto launch at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium shortly before the May 2024 elections.
The party fared particularly poorly in KwaZulu-Natal in the polls.
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