WATCH: Steenhuisen says Shivambu’s decision to join MK Party is 'opportunistic'

JOHANNESBURG - Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen says former Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) deputy president Floyd Shivambu’s decision to join the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party is purely "opportunistic".

Steenhuisen made the comments while engaging business leaders in Tshwane on Tuesday afternoon.

He said Shivambu’s departure from an organisation he established proves the EFF cannot be trusted to run any sphere of government.

Shivambu announced his withdrawal from the EFF last week, without disclosing what influenced him to jump ship.

Steenhuisen described Shivambu's affiliation with the MK Party as a cause for concern.

"But we mustn’t see this as a principled left opposition that has now been created by the departure of Floyd Shivambu, because there’s nothing principled about it."

Steenhuisen questioned why Shivambu would want to align himself with a political party that’s home to people accused of being involved state capture.

"It has nothing to do with a pragmatic realignment. It is an opportunistic realignment of the forces of people who want to loot the State."

Steenhuisen said the cracks within the EFF have shown the party is incapable of leading a country.