Zuma loyalist and former EFF member Nkosentsha Shezi has joined the MK Party. Image: @NShezi
Zuma loyalist Nkosentsha Shezi swaps red beret for MK spear
Shezi and Niehaus were co-founders of the now-disbanded political party startup Areta and both joined the EFF around the same time.
Zuma loyalist and former EFF member Nkosentsha Shezi has joined the MK Party. Image: @NShezi
One of former President Jacob Zuma’s strongest allies, Nkosentsha Shezi, has again switched his political alliances from the Red Berets to the Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party.
Shezi joined the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in December last year, around the same that former ANC member Carl Niehaus joined the red army; Shezi has since left to join Zuma’s MK Party.
MKP TO IMPLEMENT RET AND BRING BACK LAND – SHEZI
Shezi confirmed his move on Thursday in a social media video, where he is seen wearing MK Party regalia, holding a membership card, and holding the party flag. He said they were building a formidable revolutionary organisation, which would return the land and implement Radical Economic Transformation (RET).
Watch the video below:
Commanders Good morning
— Nkosentsha Shezi (@NShezi) March 14, 2024
We are busy with recruitment and building a formidable revolutionary organisation. Our land will return! RET will be implemented bethanda bengathandi! Ngeke bawenze umathanda, Siyabonga Nxamalala @PresJGZuma pic.twitter.com/ZugH6lQYti
‘SIYABONGA NXAMALALA’ – SAYS SHEZI TO ZUMA
“We are busy with recruitment and building a formidable revolutionary organisation. Our land will return! RET will be implemented bethanda bengathandi! Ngeke bawenze umathanda, Siyabonga Nxamalala,” Shezi wrote on X.
Responding to his post, Mervin Dicks, a Zuma supporter who recently joined MKP after being expelled from the ANC, welcomed Shezi as a member.
He said: “My RET Force Cde Shezi, this tweet warms my heart. I know that you are a ground force like me. Let’s hit those door-to-doors. Voter contact, eyeball to eyeball.”
SHEZI AND NIEHAUS, CO-FOUNDERS OF DISBANDED ARETA PARTY
Shezi and Niehaus were co-founders of the now-disbanded political party startup, the African Radical Economic Transformation (Areta), where Shezi served as Secretary General.
In December last year, Areta leader Niehaus told Independent Online that his party would cease to exist following his decision to join the EFF, a year after Areta was formed.
When the two, Shezi and Niehaus, announced that they were joining the EFF, it sent shock waves throughout the political landscape because they were known staunch Zuma’s supporters.
OUTSPOKEN ZUMA SUPPORTERS AND LOYALISTS
They were outspoken and supported Zuma even when he attended court appearances; they were always there to support Zuma.
A few days after Shezi and Niehaus joined EFF, Zuma announced he would not vote for the “ANC of Ramaphosa” in the upcoming May general elections. Instead, he would campaign for MKP. Even though Zuma insisted he would remain a member of the ANC.
When Shezi and Niehaus joined the EFF, it was a move that followed on the footsteps of former Public Protector, Busisiwe Mkhwebane, and former ANC Youth League leader, Magasela Mzobe, who both joined the EFF.
Mkhwebane is now serving as a member of parliament for the party.
