Massive reward for Floyd Shivambu from Jacob Zuma’s MK Party for dumping Julius Malema’s EFF

The South African political landscape has been thrown into disarray following the defection of Floyd Shivambu, former deputy president of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), to the umkhonto wesizwe Party (MKP).

This move has raised questions about the future of both parties and the broader political landscape.

Shivambu’s departure from the EFF, a party he co-founded with Julius Malema in 2013, comes after years of speculation about tensions within the party’s leadership. His decision to join the MKP, a party closely aligned with former president Jacob Zuma, has been met with a mixture of surprise and intrigue.

The MKP, which has been making significant strides in recent elections, has welcomed Shivambu and his former EFF colleague, Mzwanele Manyi, with open arms. Vincent Mdunge, spokesperson for the MKP in KwaZulu-Natal, described the two as “political giants” who would be valuable assets to the party.

“Remember people would not come for nothing, they would come for specific reasons. Therefore, we’ve got to look after them, which then means we have to reshuffle and make a movement, either in Parliament or elsewhere in the MKP where they can contribute while they are also benefiting because they earned salaries from where they are coming from,” said Mdunge.

Mdunge confirmed that Zuma would personally decide where Shivambu and Manyi would be deployed within the party. The MKP has already taken steps to accommodate the newcomers, firing 18 MPs last week to create space for them. However, the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has cautioned that the party can only bring in new members if there are vacancies on its candidate list due to death, dismissal, or resignation.

Despite these logistical hurdles, Shivambu and Manyi are likely to remain in Parliament, as the MKP is still in the process of replacing those who were fired. Manyi, who brings with him extensive experience in academia and business, has said he is eager to learn about his new role in the MKP.

“I am still familiarising myself. I still need to have a discussion with ubaba (Zuma), and ubaba would decide where to deploy me,” said Manyi.

Shivambu’s defection has also sparked speculation about possible future alliances or even a merger between the EFF and the MKP. While the two parties have some ideological differences, analysts believe that Shivambu’s move could pave the way for greater cooperation, particularly as both parties navigate the changing political landscape ahead of the 2024 elections.

However, any such coalition would require bridging significant ideological and strategic gaps. The MKP’s close ties to Zuma and its stance on issues like relations with China and Russia contrast sharply with the EFF’s more pro-Western positions.

The MKP also faces its own challenges, including allegations of internal turmoil and cronyism. The party’s success will depend largely on Shivambu’s ability to navigate these obstacles and support its strategic direction.

The impact of Shivambu’s departure on the EFF is still being debated. Some analysts believe that his resignation could weaken the party, while others contend that the EFF’s strong ideological roots and Malema’s leadership will allow it to weather this period of uncertainty.

Professor Susan Booysen, a political analyst, believes that Shivambu’s alliance with the MKP could benefit broader left-wing movements in South Africa, particularly as the MKP seeks to establish a distinct identity separate from both the ruling ANC and the EFF.

Professor Dirk Kotzé, a political science lecturer at Unisa, expects Shivambu to quickly rise among the MKP’s most prominent officials, using his knowledge and contacts to increase the party’s visibility, particularly in Parliament.

Shivambu’s defection has also sparked speculation about the reasons behind his decision. Some analysts believe that his departure was motivated by internal strife within the EFF, particularly in relation to his relationship with Malema. Others suggest that Shivambu’s resignation stemmed from dissatisfaction with his alleged marginalisation within the party.

Professor Andre Duvenhage, a political expert, suggests that Shivambu’s move could also be seen as an attempt to find political cover amid ongoing corruption claims related to the VBS Mutual Bank scandal. By aligning himself with the MKP, Shivambu may be positioning himself in a political context that is more favourable or less hostile, depending on the outcome of his legal problems.

Julius Malema’s R28,000 shoes and R300,000 outfit at Durban July break the internet (SEE PICS)

Durban, South Africa – The Hollywoodbets Durban July, South Africa’s premier horse racing event, is renowned for its vibrant atmosphere, extravagant fashion, and the sheer spectacle of it all. This year, however, the event was overshadowed by a different kind of spectacle – the R28,000 shoes worn by none other than EFF leader Julius Malema.

Malema, known for his fiery rhetoric and unwavering commitment to economic justice, attended the event with his wife, Mantwa Matlala, both dressed to impress. Matlala, a vision in a sequined blue gown, embodied the “Ride the Wave” theme, while her husband opted for a classic tuxedo with a bow tie.

Playing with other kids.❤️🕺🏾💃🏿 pic.twitter.com/lCc2qPnDcK

— Julius Sello Malema (@Julius_S_Malema) July 6, 2024

But it was Malema’s footwear that truly caught the eye – a pair of Christian Louboutin-Corteo on Spikes Oxfords, retailing for a staggering R27,975.62 on the official Louboutin website. While Malema is no stranger to dapper attire at high-profile events, his expensive shoe choice sparked a heated debate on social media.

It's ironic that Julius Malema would spend almost R300,000 on a lavish outfit for a colonial-inspired event like the Durban July, especially when he has often criticized colonialism and pushed for the empowerment of South African and black-owned brands pic.twitter.com/kENznyYCYn

— Nkoosi KaMabhoko🇿🇦🪶 (@NkosihMahlangu) July 7, 2024

Some users questioned the appropriateness of such an expensive purchase, especially given Malema’s political stance and his claims to represent the plight of the poor.

“@my1centsworth” tweeted, “Enjoying the spoils of looting spree, in his R28 000 shoes? @EFFSouthAfrica will no doubt protect their leaders spending habits, he like all other politicians didn’t get into politics to be poor.”

Another user, “@rayleon123,” echoed this sentiment, saying, “Yeah, thanks, but no thanks!! With all that bling they are wearing, purchased with money extorted from his starving, unemployed, and sick supporters! It’s outrageous!”

However, others defended Malema’s choice, arguing that he was attending a social event, not a political rally.

“@brackytiyo3” countered, “People need to be reasonable, this man was not at work, he attended Durban July with his wife. He couldn’t dress up in overalls like he was at work and he is saving a lot during the year whilst wearing them that is the reason he can afford most of the so-called expensive clothes.”

The debate highlights a complex issue in South Africa – the perception of wealth and privilege amongst politicians, especially those who claim to represent the working class. While some see Malema’s expensive shoes as a sign of hypocrisy, others argue that his fashion choices are a matter of personal preference and should not be subject to scrutiny.

“It’s a fine line,” says political analyst, Professor Thabo Mbeki, “Politicians are often judged by their actions, but also by their appearance. Malema’s choice of footwear has sparked a conversation about the role of image in politics, and how it can be used to both attract and alienate voters.”

The debate surrounding Malema’s shoes is a microcosm of the larger societal debate about wealth inequality in South Africa. While the country boasts a vibrant and growing middle class, millions of citizens still struggle with poverty, unemployment, and lack of access to basic services.

This stark reality makes it difficult for some to reconcile Malema’s expensive footwear with his political message of economic liberation. It raises questions about the extent to which politicians are accountable for their spending habits, and whether they should be held to a higher standard when it comes to their personal choices.

The Durban July, a celebration of fashion and social glamour, has inadvertently become a platform for a deeper conversation about social justice and the role of wealth in South African society. As the dust settles on the event, the debate surrounding Malema’s shoes will likely continue, serving as a reminder of the complex and often contradictory realities of life in a country grappling with inequality and the pursuit of a more equitable future.

Julius Malema says he’ll send Cyril Ramaphosa to prison if he becomes president

EFF leader Julius Malema says the first thing the party will do if it wins next year’s elections will be to send President Cyril Ramaphosa to prison for all the crimes he has allegedly committed.

Malema was speaking at the fully packed FNB Stadium on Saturday during the party’s 10th birthday celebration.

“We will take him to prison and they will see what they will do with his ugly nose in prison. He is a thief and he killed people in Marikana and he was never arrested,” he said.

“He stole money from South Africans and he was never arrested, he sleeps on top of dollars and he never gets arrested. Ramaphosa is not above the law, he will go to prison whether they like it or not.”

Watch: Malema on Ramaphosa

#malema on president #Ramaphosa pic.twitter.com/BKQfO7taB2

— Lunga_mzangwe (@lunga_mzangwe) July 29, 2023

Malema also took a swipe at the new crime prevention wardens, accusing them of being hired because they were ANC campaigners.

He said if the EFF takes power next year, they will fire all the wardens as they were hired illegally.

“They are hired because they are campaigners of the ANC. When you meet them in those overalls, tell them it’s finished, the EFF is coming next year,” Malema said.

He also accused Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi of using the Nasi Ispani initiative as bribery for young people to vote for the ANC.

“Panyaza Lesufi took people to Orlando Stadium a day before yesterday thinking that he can contest us. He’s a small boy… he doesn’t know anything,” he said.

“He took our children to the stadium to give them papers which do not deserve to be in the hands of our children. He was humiliating them saying he will give them a stipend – it’s not a stipend, it’s a bribery so that you can vote for the ANC. We don’t want a bribery, we want the land, we want jobs and we want them now.”

Watch: Malema speaks at EFF 10th anniversary celebration

Julius Malema calls for more scrutiny on role of National Treasury

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has called for more scrutiny on the role of the National Treasury.

He was speaking to guests at the red berets’ 10th-anniversary gala dinner, held in Boksburg on Thursday night.

Malema decried that more money was spent servicing South Africa’s loans, as opposed to education or health.

He reflected on the country’s finances at the time his party launched versus now, criticizing the growing unemployment rate, inflation, and deterioration of government finances.

Malema, who called for a lifestyle audit on officials at Treasury, said those in charge of the country’s fiscus are being celebrated for the wrong reasons.

“It is also a clear indication that the much-celebrated National Treasury is not celebrated for managing our finances properly,” he bemoaned.

“It is celebrated for insisting on neoliberal policies, even when there is imperial evidence that these policies are doing more damage than good, particularly for businesses.”

Julius Malema calls on EFF party officials in local government to prioritize job creation

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema called on party officials in local government executive councils to prioritize creating jobs.

Malema was speaking at the EFF Student Command rally in Durban on Friday.

He said the party must deliver on its manifesto slogan, ‘land and jobs now’.

“Comrades we are government in eThekwini, Ekurhuleni, Mogale City, West Rand, Johannesburg and Nelson Mandela Bay – we are there.”

He said this should be delivered by the end of July.

“I want to hear by end of July how many jobs are you going to create as the Department of Infrastructure, here in eThekwini.”

It’s impossible to stop an idea whose time has come. We are a generation for economic freedom in our lifetime.
Bravo @EFFKZN, @Ethekwini_EFF, and @EFFStudents for a solid @EFFSouthAfrica Youth Day programme! We say 2024 is our 1994! Freedom is Coming Tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/yldkPc2YWX

— Floyd Shivambu (@FloydShivambu) June 16, 2023

♦️ICYMI♦️

CIC @Julius_S_Malema addressing the EFF June 16 Rally at the Durban University of Technology, KwaZulu-Natal.

-We need to pay people according to their qualification. That is the only way we are going to defeat illiteracy. That is the only way we are going to fight… pic.twitter.com/cUgixs2tkQ

— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) June 17, 2023

I would supply weapons to Russia – Julius Malema

The leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), South Africa’s third-largest political party, has said he would “supply weapons to Russia” because Moscow is “in a war with imperialism”.

In an interview with the BBC in Johannesburg, Julius Malema insisted that “South Africa is an ally of Russia” and that the ANC government’s position of non-alignment only applied to the war in Ukraine.

“I will go beyond the friendship with Russia. In the war, I will align with Russia and I will even supply the weapons,” Mr Malema told HARDtalk’s Stephen Sackur.

The EFF also wants South Africa to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The ICC has issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin for alleged war crimes but Mr. Malema has pledged to prevent any attempt to arrest the Russian president if he attends next month’s BRICS summit in Cape Town.

Mr. Malema made the comments following a diplomatic row in which the US ambassador to South Africa alleged that weapons and ammunition were loaded onto a Russian vessel docked in the country last December.

The South African government has denied approving any arms shipments to Russia.

EFF’s doors are open for anyone to join: Julius Malema

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema says the party’s doors are open to anyone who wants to join, including former president Jacob Zuma. The party has recently received former African Transformation Movement (ATM) member, Mzwanele Manyi.

Malema was in Carletonville in Gauteng as part of the EFF’s 10th birthday celebrations, by visiting the Zanele Mtshali Disability Home. He says Zuma cannot be punished forever.

Malema adds, “If president Zuma comes and joins the EFF, he’ll be welcome. I think very soon I’ll be going to see him, I must give him a form to join. The same way I’ll give to President Mbeki, the same way I’ll give to President Motlanthe.”

“They are good citizens of the country and I think president Zuma has paid his dues. I mean I said yesterday (Friday) the highest form of punishment you can give a sitting president is to ensure that they don’t end their term of office.

Everything you need to know about Julius Malema’s oldest son Ratanang

We get to know EFF leader Julius Malema’s oldest son Ratanang Malema from his previous relationship, his siblings, and more. EFF leader Julius Malema’s oldest son Ratanang Malema was born from his previous relationship with Maropeng Ramohlale.

BuzzSouthAfrica reveals that Malema’s oldest son was born in 2006 by his then-girlfriend who is from Sunnyside, Pretoria.

There’s not much information known about Ratanang’s biological mother as she’s kept her life private.
The Limpopo-born politician revealed his now-17-year-old son to the world in September 2014 by sharing a picture of him, when he joined Instagram.

IS MALEMA’S OLDEST SON A DJ?
The politician and his oldest son trended in October 2022 after he posted a video of them DJing together and enjoying music.

It is unclear if his son is pursuing a music career at this stage as he’s still in high school and hasn’t shared more pictures or videos of him playing music.
Sowetan reported in February 2018 that the politician and his wife Mantoa Matlala-Malema welcomed their second son together Kopano Malema. They had their first son in October 2016 named Munzhedzi, two years after getting married.

JULIUS MALEMA GETS MARRIED
According to Celebrities Buzz, Julius Malema never married the mother of his first son as there’s no information about their relationship. The EFF leader married his long-time girlfriend Mantwa Matlala in Seshego, Limpopo province in 2014.

RATANANG FAMILY TRUST REVEALED
TshisaLIVE reported in July 2011 that City Press discovered the former ANC Youth League leader’s secret family trust in which he is the sole trustee.

“City Press reports that Malema registered the Ratanang Family Trust, named after Malema’s five-year-old son, at the Office of the Master of the High Court in Pretoria five weeks after taking up the youth league presidency”, reads the article.

Madly in love with you: Julius Malema’s sweet message to his wife

EFF leader Julius Malema is a fighter in parliament but a lover when he is home with his wife, Mantwa Matlala. Juju regularly appreciates his stunning wife on his timeline, and that’s exactly what he did on Sunday, 29 January.
One thing is for sure: Mantlala has a soft spot in Juju’s heart. Malema might have a tough exterior and a hardcore reputation when it comes to his political work. But he completely drops his guard when it comes to his beautiful wife.

Taking to Instagram, he penned a sweet birthday message to his “babe” and said. To the Mother of the boys and my wonderful wife, we celebrate your greatness today. You have been an incredible blessing to our family and brought warmth into our home. You single handily, without complaint, carry the dignity of our family.

“Today is your birthday, and I hope it brings you enjoyment. I want to wish you joy and happiness! Your beautiful heart guarantees you my love and care; nothing will destroy that which was blessed by the wrinkled hands of our ancestors. Many more years my babe; Happy Birthday Mma go Bašimane” Malema concluded.
Just last month, Malema celebrated his anniversary with his wife on 27 December. He once again took to his social media account to show Mantlala off and gushed over her in a loving post. He said.

Exemplary black love, the secrecy to 8 years of unbroken bond in marriage is being best friends. We only have the two of us when confronted by upheaval and not relying on defeatists. Happy 8th anniversary, my babe; madly in love with you.

EFF leader Julius Malema threatens nationwide shutdown over load shedding #NationalShutdown

Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema said the party would stage a national shutdown in a bid to pressure President Cyril Ramaphosa to resign. The EFF has called for Ramaphosa’s head amid the country’s ongoing electricity crisis, again.

Malema announced plans to bring the country’s economy to a standstill during a press briefing at the party’s headquarters in Johannesburg on Sunday. The EFF named 20 March as the day for national action, where they were planning to lead the march to the Union Buildings to force Ramaphosa out of office.

The party blamed Ramaphosa’s administration for several socio-economic issues, including poor economic growth on the back of rolling blackouts, unemployment, and the rising costs of living. Malema said that Ramaphosa needed to be held accountable. Cyril Ramaphosa must step aside with immediate effect.”

Malema said the EFF was prepared to face off with law enforcement on the day if there were any threats to halt the shutdown. Bring your state power, we will bring our mass power,” he declared.

At least two union federations, including the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu), also tried to stage similar countrywide protest but failed to garner enough support.