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Floyd Shivambu bets on Mayibuye iAfrika, “We will outgrow the ANC, EFF, and MK”

Published

2 weeks ago

August 18, 2025

Chiraag

Floyd Shivambu speaking in Durban, Mayibuye iAfrika rally, South African politics, ANC, EFF, MK Party, new political movement, KwaZulu-Natal, Joburg ETC

Former MK Party secretary-general Floyd Shivambu has resurfaced with a bold new political project, and he’s not holding back on its ambitions. Speaking in Durban on Sunday, the outspoken politician told a crowd of Mayibuye iAfrika volunteers that the movement will not just compete with South Africa’s biggest political players; it will eventually eclipse them.

A new path after MK expulsion

Shivambu’s remarks come just weeks after his expulsion from Jacob Zuma’s MK Party, a dramatic turn that capped a turbulent year for the former EFF co-founder. His exit followed what MK leadership called “serious breaches of trust” and “ideological misalignment,” after a string of controversies that included his Easter visit to Shepherd Bushiri’s church in Malawi.

Yet Shivambu, known for bouncing back after political fallouts, has quickly repositioned himself. He insists Mayibuye iAfrika is not a splinter of the ANC, EFF, or MK, but an entirely new organisation with its own identity.

“We are not a breakaway from anyone,” he said. “We exist on our own, and we are going to be bigger than MK, bigger than the EFF, and bigger than the ANC.”

Building a “movement of the people”

Mayibuye iAfrika, which Shivambu has been framing as a consultative process towards a full-fledged party, plans to incorporate labour unions, NGOs, and civic organisations into its structure. The aim, he says, is to create a broad-based people’s movement rooted in communities rather than political elites.

“If we go on the ground and talk to our people with respect every day, we are going to be a formidable force,” he told volunteers at Durban’s Greyville Racecourse. He promised honesty, accountability, and a rejection of the corruption that has defined much of South Africa’s political landscape.

KwaZulu-Natal: the key battleground

Shivambu’s choice to address supporters in KwaZulu-Natal was no accident. The province has become a central stage in South Africa’s political battles after Zuma’s MK Party shocked observers in the May 2024 general election by claiming 45.3% of the provincial vote, well ahead of the ANC and IFP.

By returning to KZN to launch his new project, Shivambu is signalling that Mayibuye iAfrika intends to challenge for the same support base. Analysts suggest that his appeal to grassroots organisers and his call for unity across party lines may resonate in a province where disillusionment with traditional parties is running high.

Public reaction and scepticism

On social media, reactions to Shivambu’s comeback have been sharply divided. Some see Mayibuye iAfrika as a fresh start for a seasoned politician with a history of fiery leadership. Others are more sceptical, questioning whether another new party can realistically survive in South Africa’s crowded opposition landscape.

Critics also point to his track record, from his split with Julius Malema’s EFF to his short-lived stint in the MK Party, as a sign that Mayibuye could struggle to hold together in the long run. Supporters, however, argue that Shivambu’s political resilience and ability to reinvent himself prove he is capable of pulling it off.

What’s next for Mayibuye iAfrika?

For now, the movement is still in its consultation phase, engaging churches, civil society, and community groups across the country. Shivambu insists that when Mayibuye finally enters the ballot, South Africans will see it as the “honest, trustworthy movement this country has been waiting for.”

Whether it grows into the powerhouse Shivambu promises or fades like many new parties before it will depend on how much trust he can build with voters on the ground.