Floyd sent to woo hometown voters

'MISSION IMPOSSIBLE': TRYING TO LURE ANC FANS TO MK

- Eric Mthobeli Naki

UMkhonto weSizwe party (MK) secretary-general Floyd Shivambu is to embark on what experts believe is "mission impossible," an attempt to woo residents of his hometown to support MK.

Shivambu's office advertised visits on Monday to Mahosini village for a public address; then lunch with the elderly at Vakhegula Na Vakhalabya. The Limpopo-born politician would later have dinner with professionals and cadres at Malamulele, Shivambu's birthplace.

This was seen as a test for Shivambu, the former deputy president of EFF and close ally of party leader Julius Malema.

Barely a fortnight after MK failed to go beyond only a single seat in the recent 12 by-elections at Thabazimbi in Limpopo, MK sent Shivambu to fish in an ANC-dominated pond. Limpopo is an ANC stronghold. The party obtained 73.30% there in the May elections.

Recently, one of MK's top leaders and an MP, Mzwanele Manyi, said: "MK sees itself as a government in waiting. We talk to all constituencies."