‘Wounded’ former uMkhonto weSizwe (MK Party) secretary general Floyd Shivambu has dropped a bombshell, accusing the party’s MP Nhlamulo Ndhlela of always taking ”drugs and high on alcohol, and accused Jacob Zuma’s daughter Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla of being “directionless and gullible.”

Shivambu, whose name was notably absent from the recently announced list of MK Party members headed to Parliament, did not hold back in his criticism of the party’s leadership. 

He was expected to become an MP, but was recently removed from his position as secretary-general.

In an interview with broadcaster eNCA on Monday, Shivambu claimed he was being targeted despite his contributions to the party.

“Politically, I was far more qualitatively superior to all the people I found in the leadership of uMkhonto weSizwe,” he said,

Shivambu was referring to his role in co-founding the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), where he previously served as deputy president.

Shivambu argued that his political experience elevated the MK Party’s national presence and accused some party members of feeling threatened.

“There was some degree of paranoia. Some people who thought they were political heavyweights felt threatened by our contributions,” he said.

He also claimed that former President Zuma relied on misinformation spread by what he called “counterers,” including Ndhlela.

“It includes an imbecile, a fool called Nhlamulo Ndhlela, one of the foolish leaders of the MK Party,” Shivambu said.

“He’s always on drugs and always high on alcohol in terms of how he deals with issues.”

He also accused Ndhlela of manipulating Zuma and taking pride in feeding him false information.

“He (referring to Ndhlela) will use the otherwise very gullible and directionless daughter of President Zuma, who has front-row access to him by virtue of being his daughter.”

Asked whether he had referred to Zuma-Sambudla as a “druggie” on social media, Shivambu denied the claim.

“I didn’t say that. I said people who take drugs, which is true, insult me on social media at night. That’s a fact. If anyone wants to ask me privately who those people are, they can,” he said.

Speaking to IOL News, MK Party national spokesperson and MP Nhlamulo Ndhlela said Shivambu is “clearly wounded” and attempting to smear others following his dismissal.

“He is clearly wounded and now trying to drag me through the mud,” Ndhlela said.

“I never told him to go to Malawi (to meet self-proclaimed fugitive prophet Shepherd Bushiri). He lied that the president gave him a mandate. That was a lie. Now he’s suffering the consequences of his actions.”

Ndhlela further accused Shivambu of attempting to hijack the party just days before his dismissal.

“He went and changed the names of accounting officers and put himself in,” Ndhlela said. 

“He knew he was gone. We’ve long suspected he was an agent in our midst.”

Despite the accusations, Shivambu insisted he remains a member of the MK Party, though he has since taken on a new role as the national convener of a consultation team exploring the creation of a new political movement.

Asked about the claims, Ndhlela confirmed to IOL News that he would take legal action against Shivambu.

“My lawyers are going to send him a letter. I want a public apology,” he said. 

“I’m not even going to fight him. I never have. My posture and my intellect are far leaps and bounds ahead of his.”

Ndhlela said Shivambu’s removal from leadership was widely welcomed within the party.

“People were happiest when he was removed,” he said. “When you’re dealing with someone arrogant,  it’s always their way or the highway.”

He also defended Zuma-Sambudla against Shivambu’s accusations.

“If we ever talk about a person being directionless, it’s the one making those comments,” he said. 

“Directionless is taking unauthorised international trips, implementing structures without approval, and trying to form a new party – not the actions of our national officials.”

Meanwhile, Shivambu said he is currently consulting the public about forming a new political party.

“If we do so, what should be the nature and character of that political party? How should it be funded?” he said. 

“We believe current political parties are not adequate instruments to represent the majority of South Africans in the politics of true emancipation and liberation.”

simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za

IOL Politics 

Source link