MKP, Shivambu tussle signs of deeper conflict

Professor Sipho P. Seepe

Reactions to and commentary on Floyd Shivambu's press conference have come fast and furiously from many quarters. This is understandable.

First, Shivambu is no ordinary politician. He was part of the formidable leadership of the ANC Youth League led by Julius Malema. The two were pivotal in the formation of EFF, its policy framework, and its electoral appeal. Shivambu’s political shift to the Umkhonto we Sizwe Party (MKP) after the 2024 national election caused a stir. His position as Secretary General placed him at the hub of the new party.

As a person of considerable stature in all of these political parties, with ready access to confidential decision-making and information, he was regarded as a trusted comrade. As a result, many were shocked by his revelations about financial irregularities at MK and the insults hurled at members of MKP, EFF, and the ANC. Shivambu could well have caused damage not only to the MKP but to his standing. Time will tell.

It is also conceivable that had Shivambu been included in the MKP parliamentary list, the presser would not have seen the light of day. In that case, Shivambu's gambit would be a case of someone throwing a tantrum after not getting his way.

His political gambit is an opportunistic spin of a disgruntled politician who places his ambitions above that of the party. In expressing his frustration with the MKP, Shivambu took the nuclear option. In a country mired in corruption, allegations of financial mismanagement are not to be taken lightly. Shivambu's gambit is a case of saying "If I am pushed. I will take the organisation to where it cannot recover."

For MKP, the consequences are grave. The EFF’s Sinawo Tambo could not have articulated this more sharply.

"Did foreign-denominated currency sourced from Morocco enter South Africa, without the knowledge of the South African Reserve Bank to fund the MKP or its leadership? [and] The monthly withdrawal of R7 million from MKP Coffers for unverifiable purposes, is used for what?"

The gravity of these allegations and their political implications were not lost to MKP MP Andile Mngxitama. In a social media post, he wrote “Both the Reds and the DA have launched an attack based on his allegations to initiate a process to deregister the mighty MKP… In the coming months, we must prepare for the struggle to defend the MKP from a Stellenbosch-engineered attack the struggle is under attack.”

To many, Shivambu is a case of a drowning man clutching at a straw. Faced with a barrage of criticism and formidable opposition to his leadership within the party hierarchy, Shivambu may have had to find an outlet for his frustration. Doing so provides him with an opportunity to leave the party with a modicum of dignity.

Others have argued that MKP’s decision to renege on its promises to deploy Shivambu in parliament was the last straw that broke the camel's back. Shivambu arguably used the presser to present an exaggerated version of the party’s challenges with a view of positioning himself as Mr Fixer who has fallen victim to scoundrels.

Stripped of all the hype, recent developments in the MKP carry lessons for political parties, organisations, and leaders. Organisations are fundamentally imperfect. They are comprised of imperfect individuals. Imperfections manifest themselves in various forms.

These include the inability to manage individual ambitions, personal jealousies, and differences of a personal and political nature. Robust organisations survive these. Those who lack the maturity to handle these subjective imperfections fall by the wayside. MKP risks going the same as the Congress of the People.

Both were born with great fanfare. For a party that made a dramatic and impactful entrance into the political arena in 2024, developments within MKP are disappointing. Parties formed out of disgruntlement run the risk of attracting members of the new party and those who become members of other parties.

Leaders play a critical role in the management of conflict. Disagreements and contestation are part and parcel of any organisation. When these are not resolved, they have a way of exploding. Escalation of disputes drives parties into mutually assured destruction, where no one wins, and the hopes and confidence of supporters are shaken.  

Shivambu-MKP fits neatly into this scenario.

Beyond being open to different perspectives, organisations must be seen as even-handed in how they manage instances where members violate organizational discipline. The notion of 'some are more equal than others" is a road to nowhere. It may well be that MKP has failed in this regard.

At all times, the unity and interests of the organisations should supersede those of individuals irrespective of their standing in the organisation. A party should be prepared to sacrifice delinquent members for the sake of its continuance.Individuals in parties should learn not to overestimate their importance.

We have instances of presidents and ministers who upon assuming office start believing that they are bigger than the very party that catapulted them into office. They forget that their support is derived from their association with the party. This also goes to misreading the sympathetic support one receives after being mistreated by one’s own. Very few individuals have been able to turn their misfortune into a stepping stone to reinvent themselves.

The formations of both the EFF and MKP come to mind.

Malema and Zuma relied on their personal charm and political populism to relaunch themselves. Shivambu, even with his strong political acumen and ideology has largely played second fiddle than being at the top. His latest utterings may have brought his character into question.

Glen Sungano Mpani said, "If the ANC is directionless, the EFF a cult, and MK a gathering of the gullible led by scoundrels—then what does that make the man who has sat at the table of all three? If you’ve danced with the directionless, pledged loyalty to the cult, and sought refuge among the gullible—what does that say about your political judgment? Your character? Why should anyone entrust their hopes, their future, their leadership… to you? Leadership is not about who you abandon—it’s about what you stand for."

For now, the jury is out on whether Shivambu can pull the same stunt as what Malema and Zuma achieved.

* Professor Sipho P. Seepe Higher Education & Strategy Consultant