Deputy Leader of EFF Resigns to Join Jacob Zuma's Party

Floyd Shivambu, deputy leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), has resigned to join Jacob Zuma's uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party. His departure is a significant blow to the EFF, which saw its vote share drop below 10% in May's national election. MK has gained ground, becoming the third-largest parliamentary party.

Floyd Shivambu, the deputy leader of South Africa's opposition party Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), announced his resignation on Thursday to join former president Jacob Zuma's uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party. This move marks a significant setback for the EFF, led by Julius Malema, which saw its voter share dip below 10% in the May national elections as the newly formed MK surged to become the third-largest party in parliament.

Both EFF and MK are components of a leftist opposition coalition aimed at countering the coalition government of the long-standing African National Congress (ANC) and the pro-business Democratic Alliance. However, Shivambu's defection underscores the growing appeal of MK, largely fueled by Zuma's popularity in his home province of KwaZulu-Natal.

During a press conference, Malema acknowledged the challenges ahead, stating, "This is a testing moment; the EFF will have to pass this test or it will have to die." Expelled from the ANC earlier this year, Zuma's leadership of MK has proven unexpectedly successful, contributing to the ANC's reduced vote share of below 50%.

Both EFF and MK share similar policies, such as the nationalization of banks and mines, and land expropriation for Black farmers' benefit. They both challenge what they term as "white monopoly capital," which they claim continues to dominate South Africa's wealth three decades after apartheid ended.

(With inputs from agencies.)