'I will never resign from the MK Party,' says Shivambu

JOHANNESBURG - Floyd Shivambu says he is not resigning as a member of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, despite his ambitions of forming his own political organisation. 

Shivambu held a media briefing in Midrand on Thursday, where he announced that he will be establishing a committee to look into whether there is a need for a new political party in South Africa. 

This move comes a few weeks after he was demoted as the MK Party’s secretary-general to an ordinary member. 

The MK Party says Shivambu’s demotion was due to his visit to the church of Malawian fugitive, pastor Shepherd Bushiri.

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However, Shivambu says he was removed due to a fake intelligence report that claimed he wanted to overthrow the party’s leader, Jacob Zuma. 

Despite his troubles with the MK Party, Shivambu says he remains a member. 

“If the MP Party believes that going to listen to the people violates the Constitution, they will tell me that. I will not resign, and I said I will never resign from the MK Party, and I still stick with the decision and communication I made that it was the best decision to join the MK Party.”

SHIVAMBU PUNTS FORMING A NEW POLITICAL PARTY

Shivambu said he will give up on his idea of starting a new political party if it's rejected by the public.

He said the committee will consult widely throughout the country with traditional, church, business and other societal leaders. 

Shivambu said after the consultation, the committee will make a decision on whether or not it should proceed with establishing a new party.

"If majority and genuinely so, if a majority of people say there is no need to form a political party, we will humbly listen to that and take advice from that."