EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu has informed the party of his intention to resign, adding that the MK party has offered him a senior leadership position, sources say.
Business Day understands Shivambu informed the EFF top six leadership, led by president Julius Malema, of the developments at a crisis meeting on Wednesday evening. This is ahead of a media conference on Thursday, where EFF officials will publicly make an announcement on its leadership status.
A highly placed source within the EFF’s top six said the party also expected other members who are sympathetic to the MK party, to cross the floor and join Jacob Zuma’s party.
The development comes after the MK party relegated the EFF to the fourth-largest party from third position after the May 29 election. The MK party is also the official opposition after the formation of the government of national unity (GNU), which comprises 10 parties: the ANC, DA, IFP, FF Plus, Patriotic Alliance, Al-Jamah, Good Party, PAC, UDM and Rise Mzansi.
The EFF locked themselves out of initial high-level multiparty negotiations with SA’s two biggest political parties about the formation of the GNU over its insistence that it would not work with the DA in such a government.
Relations between the ANC and the EFF have been tense since the watershed May election.
Shivambu is the EFF chief whip in parliament and is expected to resign from the position. However, parliament's spokesperson Moloto Mothapo, says it has received no correspondence from the party or Shivambu.
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