Axed MK Party members welcome Floyd Shivambu to the formation

CAPE TOWN - Axed uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party members have welcomed Floyd Shivambu to the party and say they harbour no ill feelings towards him - despite claims they’ve been fired to make room for him and others in Parliament.

Ahead of the MK Party announcing its top brass in Johannesburg on Thursday, in Cape Town disgruntled members were speaking out against what they said was fraud and corruption within the party.

Ten of the party’s 18 members of Parliament (MPs) who say they were expelled without reason - say they will continue to fight for their place in the party they love.

In court papers, 10 MK Party members who’ve served less than three months as MPs say they are being removed summarily from Parliament to make way for other preferred members including Shivambu.

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However, the group’s spokesperson Thamsanqa Khuzwayo says Shivambu will be a great asset to the nascent party.

"We know his presence in the MK Party is going to shape the MK Party. He has vast experience in politics, he’s well-educated, and he’s able to deal with policy which is something we need and he’s also going to assist us in building proper structures within the MK Party."

They dispute assertions they were only keeping seats warm until the party could pave the way for former parastatal CEOs including Brian Molefe, Lucky Montana and Siyabonga Gama and former South African Revenue Service Commissioner Tom Moyane to become MPs.

"It’s only Mr Shivambu who has publicly said he’s joining the MK Party. I know nothing about the other guys. I’ve never heard anything from them."

Khuzwayo says despite the turmoil they have faced - they have faith in the party and the role it’s already playing in society.