[ad_1]
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – In a surprising move, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) deputy chairman Floyd Shiwambu announced on Thursday that he was quitting the party and would join former President Jacob Zuma’s People’s Protection Party.
The bombshell news came at an emergency press conference where Shiwambu read out his resignation letter along with Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema and other party officials.
Sources familiar with the matter confirmed that Shiwambu decided to resign and said he wanted to be relieved of his duties. However, his resignation reportedly stirred up movement within the EFF as Shiwambu was believed to want Malema to accept his departure.
The move comes as the Economic Freedom Fighters face growing challenges, including the fallout from the VBS Mutual Bank scandal, which rocked the party as it struggled to expand its support base in May’s general election.
Speculation has been rife about a “major leadership change” within the Electronic Front, and Thursday’s press conference is expected to provide further clarity on the party’s future direction.
Shivambu and Malema are embroiled in controversy over their alleged financial benefits from the now-defunct VBS Bank. The bank’s former chairman, Tshifhiwa Matodzi, has accused the EFF of receiving illegal donations and business loans from the bank, with Shivambu and Malema profiting from these transactions.
Matozzi, who pleaded guilty to 33 charges including corruption, theft and money laundering, claimed the EFF had been receiving monthly donations from VBS through a front company, Sgameka Projects, since 2017. The scandal has devastated many low-income depositors in Limpopo province, with more than R2 billion embezzled from the bank.
As the story of Shivambu’s resignation winds down, political observers are eagerly watching how the Economic Freedom Fighters will respond and what the move means for the party’s future in South African politics.
Related
[ad_2]
Source link
