MK party secretary-general Floyd Shivambu is accused of being the master mind behind the "poorly" written speech that MKP's parliamentary caucus leader Dr John Hlophe read in the SONA Debate on Tuesday.
Image: X/MK Party
The spear (uMkhonto) now faces Floyd Shivambu's way as party members accuse him of being responsible for a poorly written SONA debate speech that MK Party’s parliamentary leader John Hlophe read.
The speech, which was widely criticised for its content and relevance, has sparked internal conflict within the party but it was discovered that the party's secretary-general was behind it.
This led to tensions between Hlophe and Mzwanele Manyi, the MKP's chief whip after he was approached by the caucus regarding the speech.
As internal squabbles deepen, sources within the MKP told IOL that this was done deliberately to undermine and embarrass Hlophe, "especially in former president Jacob Zuma's presence".
Hlophe delivered his speech on the first day of the SONA debate on Tuesday in a house where Zuma was seated next to Shivambu.
"What we know is that and according to Manyi, Shivambu wrote the speech and told Manyi to hand it over to Hlophe, pretending as if it was from Zuma. This was on the eleventh hour, mind you.
"Although, I cannot reveal much but it's bad because this will prove all that the daughter was saying.
"I mean, the man is accused of trying to destroy the party and also deploying his people from the EFF, now this. This is a big one because we will look like a mickey-mouse party who cannot manage its affairs," the source said.
Asked about whether the caucus and leadership were happy about Shivambu, the source said, "I cannot comment on that, but eish, his future is uncertain."
Earlier this week, Zuma's daughter, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, took it to X insulting Shivambu on how he runs the MKP. She said Shivambu was useless and the worst.
But the MKP MP has since apologised for her recent expletive-laden posts, acknowledging that she could have expressed her views more appropriately.
Her apology follows a warning from the party that she could face consequences if she failed to retract her comments. MKP supporters condemned her behaviour.
Another MKP insider told IOL that they don't want Shivambu anymore because he is dividing the party even further.
"We know how he used to run the EFF and that was fine for them but now those tactics are seen in MKP, how disrespectful?
"According to what I have heard, Shivambu was told during the recent workshop meeting in Cape Town that his moves were unacceptable," the source said.
Shivambu is accused of delaying appointments in certain positions because he wants to put his people first.
"Duduzile might have said what she said obviously as "umtwana ka baba" (father's daughter) but don't take what she said lightly because it will show soon," the source said.
IOL has approached Shivambu for comment but to no avail.
Meanwhile, Zuma previously threatened to expel, in numbers, those who wanted to destroy the MK Party.
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