In a startling revelation during a media briefing at Mhulu Hotel in Midrand, Floyd Shivambu, former MK Party secretary-general, accused senior leaders of orchestrating a campaign against him for preventing the squandering of the party’s funds.

Shivambu alleged that he was targeted for attempting to halt the monthly embezzlement of approximately R7 million from the party’s funds.

“(Zuma) is surrounded by political scoundrels who use his kindness, sometimes gullibility, that comes with age. To write down fake intelligence reports on me to influence him in the wrong direction. And the reason they do that is because they want to steal money from MKP this season.

“And they are doing so now -withdrawal of not less than 7 million rands monthly from organisational coffers. We are talking about this because we raised it internally,” he said.

Shivambu said they asked them to stop doing that because they ran a risk of getting the party de-registered.

Shivambu, a prominent figure in the MK party, revealed that his efforts to investigate and stop financial theft within the party had made him a target. 

He claimed that some senior leaders had access to the party’s coffers and were siphoning off millions of rands each month. He said he was met with hostility when he intervened.

“The party has had seven secretariat generals since its establishment, and all of them are gone, because questioning the money makes you a target. They were stealing around R7 million per month,” Shivambu asserted.

He further accused certain factional elements within the party of fabricating a false intelligence report, claiming he wanted to overthrow MKP leader Jacob Zuma. 

Shivambu suggested that this report served as a pretext for justifying his removal as secretary-general.

Earlier this month, Shivambu was demoted from his role as secretary-general and was informed that he would be redeployed to Parliament. 

The party cited his recent trip to Malawi, where he visited wanted fugitive Shepherd Bushiri, as the official reason for his demotion. 

Shivambu dismissed this explanation, insisting that internal power struggles and financial misconduct were the real reasons behind his sidelining.

Responding to claims that he was at odds with other members of the MK party, Shivambu dismissed allegations of factional disputes, asserting that he refused to entertain internal divisions. 

“Since the redeployment, there have been moves to overhaul the structures I helped establish when I was appointed National Organiser and later Secretary-General,” he said.

Shivambu announced his intention to convene a committee to assess whether he should establish a new political party. 

Despite his demotion and ongoing internal conflicts, he made it clear he remains committed to the MKP.

Shivambu’s tenure in the MK party has been fraught with controversy. 

Shortly after joining the party, he faced disapproval from some supporters, and social media posts by Duduzile Zuma Sambundla, daughter of former President Jacob Zuma, publicly insulted him.

Shivambu expressed his loyalty to the MK party despite the turbulence, stating, “I am not leaving the party. I will continue to fight for its integrity and transparency within its ranks.”

IOL tried to contact MK Party spokesman, Nhlamulo Ndhlela to respond to the allegations. He had not responded at the time of publication.

This is a developing story.

thabo.makwakwa@inl.co.za

IOL Politics

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