Johannesburg – In a dramatic turn of events, the Umkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) has excluded Floyd Shivambu from its list of new Members of Parliament (MPs) set to be sworn in next week.
This comes despite earlier assurances from the party that he would be redeployed to Parliament after his dismissal as secretary-general, signalling what many believe to be the definitive end of Shivambu’s relationship with the MKP.
On Saturday, MKP chief whip Colleen Makhubele issued a statement announcing the nomination and upcoming swearing-in of nine new MPs to the National Assembly. These MPs will fill vacancies as per section 47(3)(c) of the Constitution, Makhubele said.
The induction ceremony is scheduled for 25 June in the Speaker’s Boardroom at the Good Hope Building at Parliament.
The party’s new MPs are Lungisani Shangase, Jeffrey Mtolo, Zibuse Cele, Siphetho Mkhize, Philisande Mkhize, Gift Motaung, Khanyisile Litchfield (a former ANC and EFF member), Noma Buthelezi (former MKP Youth League spokesperson in KwaZulu-Natal) and Ntandoyenkosi Shezi (an ex-EFF member).
“These individuals bring a wealth of experience and dedication to the MKP and the National Assembly. Their contributions will strengthen our efforts to serve the people of SA and uphold the values of democracy, equality and justice,” the statement added.
“The MKP remains committed to ensuring effective representation and advancing the interests of all South Africans. We look forward to working with our new members as we continue to build a better future for our country," Makhubele said.
The exclusion of Shivambu from the parliamentary list marks a significant development in the ongoing saga surrounding the former secretary-general's departure from the MKP leadership.
Shivambu has dominated headlines following reports of internal conflict within the party. Earlier this month, he was fired as the party’s secretary-general, shortly after his controversial trip to Malawi, where he met with fugitive pastor Shepherd Bushiri.
At the time, the party claimed Shivambu’s visit violated its constitution, but stressed that he would be redeployed to Parliament, citing his experience as a former MP. It also stressed that the trip had not been authorised by the party or its leader, Jacob Zuma.
However, on Thursday, Shivambu addressed the media and disclosed what he called explosive details about his removal.
“The reason given for my removal as secretary-general was that I wanted to overthrow Zuma as the president of MKP,” he said.
“An extremely bizarre and fake intelligence report was produced, which was claimed to be a conversation between me and some people on the continent … allegedly raising money to remove president Zuma," Shivambu said.
The MKP has not formally responded to Shivambu’s claims. However, his exclusion from the new parliamentary list suggests the party is moving on – without him.
City Press reported that Shivambu was also removed from the party’s WhatsApp group by spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela, further signalling his political isolation within the MKP.
Despite the rift, Shivambu said he would remain an MKP member – for now. But he confirmed his intention to form a new political party, saying he would soon start consultations.
“In the coming weeks, I will be consulting with traditional and religious leaders on forming a new political party. It will not be by an individual, not by a group of friends, not a tribal or ethnic project, not regional or provincial and not a cult or fiefdom,” he said.
The sidelining of Shivambu raises questions about the future direction of the MKP and the potential for further internal divisions. While the party seeks to project an image of unity with the introduction of its new MPs, the exclusion of a prominent figure like Shivambu suggests that the fallout from recent events is far from over.
It remains to be seen whether Shivambu's plans to form a new political party will gain traction and further fragment the political landscape. His exclusion from Parliament represents a setback for the seasoned debater and policy tactician, but his confirmation that he's exploring the feasibility of a new political party signals that he is not ready to exit the political arena.
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