Floyd's new party picking up speed

Mayibuye iAfrika benefits from defections from the MK party and aims to take part in next year's local government polls

- Mandisa Nyathi

The uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party has been thrown into fresh turmoil as senior leaders resign to join Floyd Shivambu's Mayibuye iAfrika, which looks set to be registered ahead of next year's local government elections.

Last week, former MK party deputy secretary general Nombuso Mkhize appeared at a Mayibuye media briefing where she was introduced as the head of presidency. Shivambu said Mkhize would “serve as a critical link between the offices of the national convenor and national coordinator, ensuring operational excellence, unity of purpose and strategic coherence”.

Mkhize will also take part in “all national engagements, strategic meetings and policy decisions” and would drive the party’s agenda on “economic transformation, land restitution, youth empowerment and anti-corruption”.

Mkhize’s move follows the departure of several MK party leaders who Shivambu said had defected to Mayibuye iAfrika in recent weeks, including former treasurer general Menzi Magubane, former Gauteng provincial leader Musa Novela and Alfred Skhosana from Mpumalanga.

This comes after Jacob Zuma fired Shivambu as MK secretary general in June, following a controversial visit to Malawi where he attended a church service led by fugitive pastor Shepherd Bushiri. The trip had not been sanctioned by the MK party.

Shivambu then launched Mayibuye iAfrika, joined by several former MK party leaders. Earlier this month, MK said it had terminated his membership on 15 July.