"The Three Musketeers of Discord: Zuma, Malema, and Shivambu's Toxic Tango" By Mpho Dube, The Azanian Editor in Chief, Publisher and Founder

Mpho Dube
Jun 19
3 min read

Former president Jacob Zuma and EFF president Sello Julius Malema tea meeting.

By Mpho Dube

In the complex and often tumultuous world of South African politics, few figures have been as polarizing as Jacob Zuma, Julius Malema, and Floyd Shivambu.

Once united in their quest to take down their former party, the ANC, and its president, Cyril Ramaphosa, these three musketeers of discord have found themselves at each other's throats. Their association, which once seemed like a formidable force, has turned toxic. The tea parties and goat meat gatherings that once fueled their gossip and plotting against Ramaphosa have given way to public feuding and mudslinging. It's a case of "united we fall, divided we fail" – and fail spectacularly, it seems.

As Nelson Mandela once said, "A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination." Unfortunately, it appears that Zuma, Malema, and Shivambu have chosen to prioritize their personal ambitions over the greater good, leading to a toxic dynamic that threatens to consume them all.

Zuma, the former ANC president turned MK Party leader, recently lambasted Shivambu, calling him pompous and narcissistic. Malema, the EFF president, has also taken a jab at Zuma, highlighting the deep divisions within this once-unlikely alliance. Their downfall serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of negative energy and the importance of genuine relationships in politics.

As Oliver Tambo, the legendary ANC leader, once said, "The struggle for national liberation is a struggle for the fundamental human rights of the people." It is clear that Zuma, Malema, and Shivambu have lost sight of this principle, prioritizing their own interests over the needs of the people.

Their toxic tango has left many wondering if they'll ever find their way back to a path of unity and purpose.

The narrative of these three musketeers-turned-adversaries serves as a reminder that, in politics, there are no permanent friends or foes – only permanent interests. When those interests are threatened, alliances can quickly turn sour.

As Steve Biko, the anti-apartheid activist, once said, "The black man must reject all value systems that seek to make him a foreigner in the country of his birth." It is clear that Zuma, Malema, and Shivambu have rejected the value system of the ANC, prioritizing their own interests over the party's principles.

The pursuit of power and revenge has corrupted the relationships between these three former allies. Their toxic dynamic has led to a situation where they are more focused on taking each other down than on serving the people of South Africa.

As Desmond Tutu, the Nobel laureate, once said, "When the missionaries came to Africa they had the Bible and we had the land. They said, 'Let us pray.' We closed our eyes. When we opened them, we had the Bible and they had the land." It is clear that Zuma, Malema, and Shivambu have lost sight of the bigger picture, prioritizing their own interests over the needs of the people.

In the end, the people of South Africa will be the ones to decide who will lead and who will follow. As for Zuma, Malema, and Shivambu, it seems their own negative energy has given birth to a new kind of calamity – one that may haunt them for a long time to come.

As the saying goes, "absolute power corrupts absolutely." In this case, the pursuit of power and revenge has corrupted the relationships between these three former allies. Their toxic tango has highlighted the dangers of prioritizing personal ambition over the greater good.

The ANC, once a symbol of unity and purpose, has been plagued by internal conflicts and power struggles. The party's leadership has been criticized for its handling of these conflicts, with many calling for greater transparency and accountability.

As Walter Sisulu, the ANC veteran, once said, "The ANC is a disciplined organization. We have rules and regulations that govern our behavior." It is clear that Zuma, Malema, and Shivambu have forgotten these principles, prioritizing their own interests over the party's rules and regulations.

The toxic dynamic between these three musketeers-turned-adversaries serves as a reminder that politics is a game of power and interests. When politicians prioritize their own interests over the needs of the people, the consequences can be calamitous.

In conclusion, the story of Zuma, Malema, and Shivambu is a cautionary tale about the dangers of negative energy and the importance of genuine relationships in politics. As the people of South Africa look to the future, they must prioritize leaders who are committed to serving the greater good, rather than their own personal ambitions. Only then can the country move forward, united and purposeful, towards a brighter future.