MK axes Floyd Shivambu as Secretary-General over unauthorised trip to fugitive pastor’s church, redeployed to parliament

Key topics:Shivambu removed for breaching MK party’s foreign policy rules.Praise for fugitive pastor Bushiri triggers public and political backlash.MK signals shift toward discipline amid internal tensions..Sign up for your early morning brew of the BizNews Insider to keep you up to speed with the content that matters. The newsletter will land in your inbox at 5:30am weekdays. Register here.Support South Africa’s bastion of independent journalism, offering balanced insights on investments, business, and the political economy, by joining BizNews Premium. Register here.If you prefer WhatsApp for updates, sign up to the BizNews channel here.The auditorium doors will open for BNIC#2 on 10 September 2025 in Hermanus. For more information and tickets, click here..By Kerry Lanaghan.Listen to this story instead:.Floyd Shivambu, once a senior leader in South Africa’s uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, has been removed from his role as secretary-general following a controversial, unsanctioned trip to Malawi. His visit to the church of fugitive pastor Shepherd Bushiri during Easter sparked public outrage, political backlash, and internal strife within the newly formed party.The incident has now culminated in a significant political shake-up, with MK party president Jacob Zuma announcing Shivambu’s removal and redeployment to the National Assembly.According to Mail & Guardian, in a statement released Tuesday, the party cited a breach of its constitution, specifically Section 3(j), which prohibits members from embarking on international engagements that conflict with the party's agenda or bypass official approval channels. The party or Zuma did not endorse Shivambu’s trip, which was deemed a violation of MK’s core principles and disciplinary code.Bushiri, the controversial figure at the center of the scandal, fled South Africa in 2020 while facing multiple charges including fraud and rape. His escape while on bail triggered an ongoing extradition battle, with Malawi's courts recently ruling to return him and his wife, Mary, to face justice in South Africa. Shivambu’s public praise of Bushiri, whom he described as a spiritual and economic inspiration, was posted on X, drawing sharp criticism from government officials, civil society, and political observers.Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi condemned Shivambu’s visit as undermining South Africa’s legal system, warning that it sent a dangerous message about impunity for the powerful. The MK party quickly distanced itself from the incident, stating that the trip was personal and not aligned with the party’s stance on accountability and gender-based violence.Despite the party's formal statement of disapproval, internal pressure had been mounting for weeks to remove Shivambu from the leadership post. Party insiders revealed growing dissatisfaction with his management style, unilateral decision-making, and lack of consultation on strategic issues. These frustrations came to a head following the Malawi trip, which many viewed as a final act of insubordination.Several provincial leaders and senior members of MK called for swift disciplinary action, arguing that Shivambu’s actions risked tarnishing the party’s image at a critical juncture. MK emerged as the third-largest party in South Africa's recent national elections, contributing to the ANC losing its parliamentary majority for the first time since 1994. In that context, Shivambu’s public support for a fugitive undermined the party’s claim to moral authority and reformist credibility.Zuma, who has been steering MK’s ascent since its formal registration in 2023, acknowledged Shivambu’s contributions to the party’s early growth. Shivambu was a key organiser who helped build MK’s mobilisation structures after defecting from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), where he previously served as deputy president. He was appointed secretary-general soon after joining MK.In Tuesday’s announcement, Zuma said that the redeployment decision followed extensive consultation and that Shivambu had accepted the outcome, which he has stated on X. While his removal from the secretariat is significant, the party portrayed the shift as “strategic,” with Shivambu now expected to strengthen MK’s presence in Parliament, where it serves as the official opposition.The move also comes shortly after MK removed Mzwanele Manyi as its chief whip, signalling a broader leadership reshuffle within the party’s parliamentary caucus. While Shivambu’s new role may offer a chance at rehabilitation, his demotion marks a decisive moment in MK’s evolution from insurgent upstart to a party attempting to enforce internal discipline and cohesion.The party has yet to announce who will replace Shivambu as secretary-general, though pressure is mounting for a figure capable of uniting its increasingly diverse and factionalised base.

MK axes Floyd Shivambu as Secretary-General over unauthorised trip to fugitive pastor’s church, redeployed to parliament

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