Shivambu to Ditch MK Party After Fallout Over Broken Promises

Dismissed, disgruntled, and disillusioned, Floyd Shivambu is preparing to walk away from Zuma’s MK Party.

After weeks of simmering tension, former uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party secretary-general Floyd Shivambu is expected to break his silence and make his political intentions clear. Sources close to the embattled politician confirm that he will address the media on Thursday in Johannesburg, likely to announce his official resignation from the party that brought him in, only to leave him hanging.

The anticipated exit follows a series of public embarrassments and private betrayals, culminating in a trip to Malawi that became political poison.

Malawi Fallout: A Church Trip That Changed Everything

Shivambu’s troubles began during Easter when he made an eyebrow-raising visit to Malawi to attend a church service led by none other than Prophet Shepherd Bushiri, the self-proclaimed “Man of God” who is, in fact, a fugitive from South African law.

The optics of the trip were damaging enough. But within the MK Party, which has marketed itself as rooted in principle and the struggle for justice, the visit triggered a fierce backlash.

MK leader Jacob Zuma announced Shivambu’s immediate dismissal from his post as secretary-general. At the time, Zuma offered a seemingly generous political consolation prize: a redeployment to Parliament.

That promise has yet to materialise. And now, sources suggest Shivambu has had enough.

Zuma’s Party: A House Divided?

Internally, the MK Party is reeling. Shivambu’s dismissal exposed not only his personal miscalculation but a deeper fault line within the party’s leadership.

According to MK’s own constitution, Shivambu violated Section 3(j), which prohibits international travel that undermines party objectives. But critics argue the party used this clause selectively—ignoring bigger structural issues in favour of a swift scapegoat.

Civil society groups have also weighed in, calling on MK to hold its leaders accountable. The pressure, some say, forced Zuma’s hand.

But others see Shivambu’s ousting as part of a larger pattern, where power in the MK Party flows through Zuma alone, and loyalty trumps legitimacy.

Bushiri Connection: A Legal and Political Minefield

Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary fled South Africa in 2020 while out on bail. They’re wanted on a raft of charges: fraud, rape, money laundering, and immigration violations.

In March, a Malawian court approved South Africa’s extradition request a major win for the justice system. But the Bushiris appealed, and the matter is now in the hands of the High Court in Lilongwe.

Amid this tense legal battle, Shivambu’s appearance at Bushiri’s service felt like a slap in the face to the rule of law.

Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi didn’t mince words. She condemned Shivambu’s visit as damaging not only to the credibility of the justice system but also to the broader public’s trust in political leadership.

“Leaders cannot claim to be champions of justice while embracing those who defy it,” she said.

What Next for Shivambu?

With his political future hanging in the balance, Shivambu now finds himself without a party title and, for now, without a parliamentary seat.

But those close to him say he’s not done. In fact, there’s speculation he may soon launch a new political movement—one aimed at uniting disillusioned voices across ANC, MK, and EFF lines.

What’s clear is that Shivambu won’t be sitting quietly in the backbenches. Thursday’s media briefing may mark the beginning of a new political chapter—one born not of loyalty, but of lessons learned in betrayal.

Social Media Buzz: “From Bushiri to Backstabbed”

Online, reaction to the Shivambu saga has been scathing. One X user posted:

“You dance with Bushiri, and then you’re shocked when you get ghosted by Zuma? Politics 101.”

Others have noted the irony:

“Zuma built the MK Party on trust. Shivambu broke it at a Bushiri revival.”

If anything, the whole episode has served as a cautionary tale for South Africa’s political elite: alignment with controversial figures, no matter how spiritual, can have earthly consequences.

Floyd Shivambu’s journey from power player to political orphan is a microcosm of South Africa’s increasingly fractured political landscape. His next move—whether founding a new party or realigning with old allies—could reshape the contours of the left-wing space in the country.

But for now, all eyes are on Thursday’s briefing. Gloves are off. And Shivambu seems ready to throw a few punches of his own.

{Source: IOL}

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