Floyd Shivambu’s political descent reached terminal velocity this week after the ( uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party stripped him of his Secretary General title following an unsanctioned visit to fugitive pastor Shepherd Bushiri in Malawi — a move the party deemed a betrayal of its constitution and principles.
In a dramatic shift from political kingmaker to parliamentary backbencher, Shivambu is accused of misrepresenting his Easter Weekend trip as party-sanctioned when it was not. As confirmed by a media statement, the meeting of party leadership and former President Jacob Zuma found his actions in “direct violation” of the party’s constitution.
“The President and the National Officials were left with no other option but to act swiftly,” the statement concluded, citing Section 3(j) of the MK constitution which prohibits international trips that contradict party interests.
“Rogue diplomatic escapade”
Political observers were swift in condemning Shivambu. One noted commentator, @AfricaIsBlack, posted on X:
“The MK Party has decisively acted against Floyd Shivambu’s rogue diplomatic escapade to Malawi, exposing his blatant lies… Consequently, in a swift correction, he has been stripped of his Secretary General position and ‘redeployed’ to Parliament.”
In a separate tweet, @AfricaIsBlack added:
“All those who got sweet-talked by Floyd the traitor into jumping ship from the EFF to his MK Party… are kicking themselves now. The EFF remains solid. To the deserters? Good riddance!”
Commentator Dan Corder summed up the saga poetically:
“Floyd Shivambu is the story of Icarus… He flew too high, too close to the sun… the wings fell apart, Icarus fell.”
Shivambu, for his part, remained defiant, posting:
“MK is best political revolutionary movement ever!… It will never change! #GwazaMkhontoGwaza!”
In another X post, he wrote:
“Am truly and genuinely grateful for the tasks given and the redeployment. We will serve with excellence and discipline.”
But not everyone was convinced. A public exchange with ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula escalated tensions after Mbalula wrote:
“Zuma uSleg (he’s cruel), they made Floyd draft the constitution to only use the same constitution to remove him.”
To which Shivambu responsded:
“Like he decisively used the Constitution to take the ‘mighty’ ANC to 40% and left you begging for cooperation with the white minority. I respect and will forever respect President Zuma.”
Repercussions ripple through MK and EFF ranks
The fallout has also reopened wounds from Shivambu’s dramatic departure from the EFF, which Julius Malema once described as painful as “losing a parent.”
His exit triggered further departures — most notably that of Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, who recently confirmed his resignation from both parliament and politics.
Zuma cracks the whip
This isn’t the first time Zuma has taken decisive action in defense of party discipline. Just last month, he issued a stern warning to his daughter Duduzile after she came under fire for social media posts attacking Shivambu.
The MK Party, barely a year old, has soared on a wave of populist disillusionment with traditional parties. But recent events reveal that behind its rise lies a fragile and fractious power structure now being tested by ego, loyalty, and public scrutiny.
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