Jacob Zuma, leader of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, has officially removed Floyd Shivambu from his role as Secretary General and reassigned him to parliament. The decision follows Shivambu’s unsanctioned trip to Malawi, where he attended a church service led by controversial fugitive pastor Shepherd Bushiri.
In a statement released by the party, Zuma confirmed that Shivambu’s actions were found to be in violation of the MK party’s constitution. The leadership concluded that his international travel, which was not approved by either the president or the party, breached Section 3(j) under “Offences.” This section explicitly prohibits members from engaging in international activities that conflict with the party’s agenda or the interests of its allied organisations.
Zuma stated the visit to Malawi was not an official MK program and therefore undermined the party’s constitutional guidelines. The incident raised alarms within the party’s top leadership and also drew criticism from civil society, prompting immediate action.
“The president and national officials were left with no choice but to address the matter decisively,” read the statement.
The trip gained even more attention due to Malawi’s ongoing legal proceedings against Shepherd Bushiri. In March, the country’s judiciary granted South Africa’s request to extradite Bushiri and his wife Mary, who fled while facing fraud charges in 2020.
Internally, Shivambu had already been under pressure. Senior MK members and provincial leaders reportedly expressed concerns over his leadership style, describing it as unilateral and lacking in consultation. Accusations surfaced suggesting Shivambu prioritized personal political moves over collective party goals. His trip to Malawi is now being seen by some insiders as a tipping point, sealing his fate.
While Shivambu played a crucial role in the formative stages of the MK party—especially in establishing mobilisation structures—his relationship with key figures had grown strained. A leaked letter from party opponents last week revealed plans for his removal.
Despite his removal as Secretary General, Shivambu will not be sidelined entirely. He has been redeployed to the National Assembly to bolster MK’s parliamentary caucus. The move comes shortly after the party removed Mzwanele Manyi as chief whip, sparking speculation about strategic reshuffling within the leadership.
Some analysts view the redeployment as a tactical repositioning rather than a demotion, with Shivambu expected to bring his political experience and influence to parliament. Previously, he served as a Member of Parliament and was the deputy president of the Economic Freedom Fighters before joining MK in 2024.
Zuma acknowledged Shivambu’s contributions and said the decision to redeploy him came after discussions and mutual agreement.
“The national officials have decided to redeploy Commander Floyd Shivambu to strengthen our efforts in the National Assembly,” Zuma said.
The MK party has not yet named a successor to Shivambu as Secretary General.