Umkhonto Wesizwe (MK) has announced that former EFF Member Floyd Shivambu will be the party’s national organiser.
Making the announcement on behalf of party president Jacob Zuma, MKP secretary-general Sifiso Maseko said: “The MK Party will be led by the national high command, which will be the highest [decision-making] body comprising eight officials.
“The leadership collective of the high command is president Jacob Zuma, deputy president Dr John Hlophe, secretary-general Dr Sifiso Maseko, the deputy secretary-general is Nombus Mkhize and the national organiser is no other than Floyd Shivambu.”
“The national chair is no other than Nkosinathi Nhleko. The deputy national chairperson is Wilson Sibiloane. Our treasurer-general is Menzi Ngubane.”
It announced the changes at a media briefing in Sandton, Johannesburg, on Thursday.
The briefing comes after the implosion of the EFF, which saw Shivambu not renew his membership last Thursday. It also comes after a rocky period in the MK Party, which has seen several leaders come and go.
Shivambu’s arrival may bring winds of change to the party.
The briefing surprisingly started on time, with Zuma, who is known for not keeping time, arriving at the Capital Empire Hotel on time and was seated promptly by 12:00 when the briefing started.
Before the briefing began, Shivambu was seen pacing up and down, trying to make sure that everything was set. From greeting guests at the door to ushering senior leaders in and checking the sound, Shivambu executed his new duties with ease.
Outlining the national orgaisers’ role, Maseko said Shivambu would be responsible for organising and developing the party’s organisational documents and guidelines, political education, policy and research.
He will also be responsible for monitoring and evaluation, representing the party in Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) structures, and working closely with the secretary-general to establish structures and leagues.
During the briefing, the MK Party unveiled that it would have a high command collective, the highest decision-making body, comprised of eight officials and 45 additional members.
“The time has now arrived that we should establish ourselves as a full organisation, with structures and members in all the voting districts, wards, sub-regions, regions and provinces,” said Maseko.
He added that these structures had been installed to start preparations for the upcoming 2026 local government and 2029 general elections.
He said: “The MKP is at its establishment process and will not convene elective conferences because we know what such can do to undermine our unity and progress as an organisation.”
MK Party’s national chair, Nkosinathi Nhleko, said the party would prioritise stability in the organisation.
He said, “On the question of having a conventional conference that elects and so on, at this stage, we can’t do so, and we can’t do so precisely because what is important is that we need to put the infrastructure in place and let it be a working infrastructure.”
Zuma also weighed in, saying conferences were no longer genuine.
“We want to bring changes, we want to have an MK that is disciplined, respects people and standing for the interests of the people. We do not want to see anyone of us doing something wrong.
“Part of the reason we have said we don’t need conferences for now as we are establishing our party is because conferences have become fake. People use money.”
“They buy people to vote for them and do everything. We are saying that is not going to happen to uMkhonto weSizwe,” he said.
