Floyd Shivambu Launches His Own Political Party

Floyd Shivambu Launches New PoliticalParty, Takes Swipe at EFF and MK Party

JOHANNESBURG – The South African political scene has just gotten a little more crowded with the arrival of the Afrika Mayibuye Political Movement (Mayibuye). The new party is led by Floyd Shivambu, a well-known political figure who has now launched his own party for the first time after leaving his previous roles. Shivambu was a founder and deputy president of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and later served as the secretary-general of the Umkhonto weSizwe (MK Party), a position from which he was eventually removed.

Mayibuye enters a crowded political field, following the 2024 general elections. Shivambu announced that the party has its sights set on the upcoming local government elections in 2026, with a more ambitious goal of winning the general elections in 2029. He stated that the new movement is built on the foundation of South Africa’s past struggles and the aspirations of its future generations.

In a formal announcement, Shivambu declared the formation of the new party. “I have the honour on behalf of our foremothers and forefathers, on behalf of the people of South Africa, on behalf of the current and future generations, and by the grace of the almighty God, to announce the formation of Afrika Mayibuye Movement as a political movement and political party,” he said.

The new organisation will be commonly known as Mayibuye, not as AMM, as Shivambu made a point of emphasising.

A Party of Ideas, Not a "One-Person Show"

In a move that appeared to be a direct swipe at his former political homes, the EFF and the MK Party, Shivambu stressed that Mayibuye will not be a one-person show or a family-run organisation. He positioned the party as a fighting force against corruption and wrongdoing.

“Africa Mayibuye will not be a cult. It will not be a family project, and it will not be a scheme for self-enrichment," Shivambu said. “It is going to fight all manifestations of corruption. Instead, Afrika Mayibuye Movement is a fighting weapon in the hands of the people. Mayibuye is a shield against corruption and wrongdoing.”

The Restoration Manifesto and Its 100 Reasons

Shivambu revealed that the party’s national core team and officials have already approved its foundational document, the Afrika Mayibuye Restoration Manifesto. This document will be made available online for public input. According to Shivambu, the manifesto provides a historical background, acknowledging the country's past, history, origins, and culture.

The manifesto outlines 100 reasons for the movement's establishment, including significant issues such as unemployment, landlessness, inequality, and national debt. However, Shivambu also noted that the party would have been formed even if there was only one reason to do so, whether it was job creation, fighting inequality, or any other cause.

"But we have 100 reasons which we collected from the people of South Africa as to why Afrika Mayibuye Movement should exist as a political party and as a political movement," he said.

The manifesto also identifies the key forces behind the revolution the party aims to pursue. It sets out the rules and functions of the movement, provides a clear position on the immigration question, and defines the character and identity of the Afrika Mayibuye Movement.

The Logo: A Blend of Tradition and New Ideas

Shivambu also introduced the party’s logo, which has a distinct resemblance to that of the EFF. It features a green African map and a black hand holding a unique spear-pen. He explained the symbolism behind the design in detail.

“The logo of Afrika Mayibuye Movement is the circle of people representing royalty, with an African map inside. The top part of the logo is written ‘Afrika Mayibuye’, and the bottom part is written ‘movement’," Shivambu said.

He then elaborated on the significance of the hand and the spear-pen, a symbol that he claims distinguishes his party from others. “Underneath the map is a black clenched fist holding a unique spear-pen. It appears as a spear in the beginning and as a pen on the end," he explained.

Shivambu said that in South Africa, the three biggest black political organisations all have a spear in their logos. The spear-pen in Mayibuye's logo, however, is meant to signify a new approach to political struggle. “It represents that now we are fighting our struggles with clear ideas. With information, with superior knowledge and with identity,” he concluded. This new symbol, and the party it represents, aims to carve out a new space in the country's complex political landscape, promising a fresh approach to old problems.