MIDRAND, SOUTH AFRICA – Former MK party secretary-general Floyd Shivambu has revealed plans to form a new political party to contest the upcoming 2026 local government elections, while making it clear he will remain a member of MK unless expelled.
Speaking during a press briefing in Midrand on Thursday, Shivambu outlined his intentions to consult opinion leaders, civil society, and grassroots communities across South Africa before officially launching the party. He says the goal is to build a new political home for South Africans disillusioned with mainstream politics, but he refuses to walk away from uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) voluntarily.
“If the party feels that consulting citizens is a cause for termination of membership, then be it,” Shivambu told reporters. “I won’t beg for political membership.”
The media briefing, which attracted several former EFF and MK leaders, including ex-MK treasurer-general Menzi Ngubane, comes just two weeks after Shivambu was recalled from his position as secretary-general — a role he held for only 10 months. He had joined MK as national convener before being promoted.
Shivambu said his removal was driven by “fake intelligence reports” and internal financial misconduct, accusing some within MK of targeting him for exposing alleged corruption.
“They claimed that besides meeting African leaders and accumulating money to topple Zuma, I was also getting supernatural powers to make people disappear,” Shivambu said mockingly. “All this because of the work I was doing to establish structures. There are individuals within the party who are stealing R7 million of the party’s funds every month.”
He also revealed that members of the Muslim community allegedly withdrew financial support for the MK party, demanding his removal for attending Shepherd Bushiri’s church, where an Israeli flag was displayed. Shivambu suggested this incident contributed to his ousting.
“I will not be silenced or bullied for associating with religious communities or for where I worship. That is not leadership — it is factionalism disguised as principle.”
Addressing speculation about his political future, Shivambu ruled out rejoining either the ANC or EFF, calling the former “directionless and dominated by white supremacy” and dismissing the latter as a “cult movement.”
“The ANC has lost its way. It no longer represents the vision of liberation. As for the EFF, it has become something else entirely — more about loyalty to a person than service to the people.”
Shivambu said the new party he envisions will not be built on individualism but on consultation, collective input, and practical solutions for South Africans. He believes that unemployment, crime, corruption, and landlessness are the defining concerns of the population and that current political formations are failing to address them effectively.
“The people of South Africa are united by a common voice. They need jobs, a society that is free from crime and corruption, and they want land. That is what this process is about — building from that voice.”
He said the party formation will proceed only if citizens embrace the idea.
“If they reject this, we will accept the decision. This is about the people, not about me.”
While Shivambu’s political credibility remains both admired and criticised across the spectrum, his move signals further fragmentation within MK — a party already facing internal disputes over leadership, direction, and finances less than a year after its explosive debut.
Whether Shivambu’s consultations will result in a strong new force or another short-lived political outfit remains to be seen. But for now, he appears determined to chart an independent path — unless MK removes him first.
