Ndou says Shivambu still has a role to play in SA politics

Political analyst Levy Ndou says former uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) Secretary-General, Floyd Shivambu, still has the potential to make a huge mark in South African politics.

Shivambu has announced that he’s starting consultations on whether he should start a political party.

The former Secretary General of the MK Party has, however, dismissed any speculation he might be leaving the MK Party anytime soon.

Dr Ndou says Shivambu’s still quite young.

“But of course, it could’ve been a good idea to start with consultation, to get the views of other people out there so that you know exactly where you stand. When you decide or when the time is right for the political party to be formed, Shivambu with his history in the South African politics, he cannot be just easily be lost to South Africa. And age is on his side. He’s got all the energy at his disposal. And I think he can still make a huge impact in the body politics of South Africa,” says Ndou.

Meanwhile, MKP Member of Parliament Sihle Ngubane says he is pleased that Shivambu is still a member of the party.

Shivambu sought to extinguish speculation at a media briefing in Johannesburg regarding his possible departure from the party following his “redeployment” from party SG position to parliament.

Ngubane, who was attending the IEC Symposium on Political Party Funding, says he appreciates the fact that Shivambu remains a member. He has also encouraged both Shivambu and the party to sit down and iron out issues.

“If Comrade Shivambu is still a member of MKP, we really appreciate that and we are ok with that. But let’s leave that to the National High Command to deal with it, because it’s issues of the political party. Floyd must now sit with the High Command and sort out their issues,” says Ngubane.

Floyd Shivambu | I don’t want to get involved in any issues: MKP’s Sihle Ngubane

Shivambu, on the other hand, says he’s not bothered about his membership being terminated by the party, following his announcement to hold a consultation process on whether to start a political party.

He said this when he broke his silence on the reasons for his removal from the SG position, saying it was due to false allegations of him seeking to take over the party.

“We’re in a listening session and if MK thinks that listening is a cause for termination of membership, so be it. It’s not the first time, like my membership of the ANC – I was not even expelled in the ANC, I was suspended and I left. You know, this thing of political parties thinking that, hey, people are desperate for their membership must come to an end, and that people must beg for membership. If anything, political parties must be honored that they’ve got members and respect them,” says Shivambu.

Shivambu announces consultation for new party formation: