Floyd Shivambu's defection from EFF to MK Party, part of well calculated political strategy: Analysts

The Weekend View

When Floyd Shivambu announced on Thursday that he was leaving his post as deputy leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters to join the uMkhonto Wesizwe Party, many analysts described the move as the biggest shake-up in the Red Berets' camp since their launch 11 years ago. Accepting his resignation, EFF leader Julius Malema said Shivambu's departure was 'painful' and 'shoking'. The MKP on their part were quick to welcome the decision saying it could not have come at a better time. Since then speculation has been rife about the real reasons for Shivambu's defection. Many are asking whether the former 2nd in Command was tired of being in the shadow and whether a different Floyd will emerge from his new political base. To discuss this Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Prof. Bheki Mngomezulu, Director of the Centre for the Advancement of Non-Racialism and Democracy at Nelson Mandela University and Dr Fikile Vilakazi, Political Analyst from the University of the Western Cape