Floyd Shivambu: ‘Mayibuye Afrika Movement will win 2026 and 2029 elections’
The newly formed Mayibuye Afrika Movement, led by Floyd Shivambu, is aiming for victory in both the 2026 local government and 2029 general elections.
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The president of newly formed movement and political party, Mayibuye Afrika Movement, Floyd Shivambu, says his party will win both the upcoming 2026 local government elections and the general elections in 2029.
Shivambu officially announced the Afrika Mayibuye Movement as both a political movement and a political party.
The widely anticipated announcement came during a media briefing held on Friday in Midrand, Johannesburg, following a previous national consultation process.
Shivambu said the Afrika Mayibuye Movement is registered as a political party in terms of the Electoral Commission Act of 1996, allowing it to contest elections strategically.
“We also want to announce that, because we had foresight and understanding, we have already complied with all the provisions of the Electoral Commission Act of 1996. So the Afrika Mayibuye Movement is registered as a political party in terms of that act,” he said.
“We have a certificate that acknowledges us as a political party. What that means is that the Afrika Mayibuye Movement is going to be able to contest elections strategically.”
Shivambu said the party will contest all wards in the 2026 local government elections and aims to win all municipalities.
“We are going to contest all the wards in the 2026 local government elections. We are going to contest to win all the municipalities in 2026,” he said.
He also declared that the party is preparing to win the general elections in 2029.
“And we are not contesting for the sake of contesting. We are contesting with the aim, and we are going to win the elections in 2029.”
Shivambu said the party no longer has temporary structures and has moved to permanent leadership roles.
He said that the national core team and officials of Mayibuye have been approved.
The leadership structure now includes a president, two deputy presidents, a secretary-general, deputy secretary-generals, a national chairperson, a deputy chairperson, a national organiser, a deputy organiser, and other key positions.
“The constitution that we have in draft is taking effect immediately, meaning there are no more interim structures. Those who were called conveners and coordinators in the provinces are now provisional chairpersons and secretaries,” Shivambu said.
“In the officials of the Afrika Mayibuye Movement, we no longer have a national coordinator - we have a secretary-general. We have deputy secretary-generals, a national chairperson, a deputy national chairperson, a national organiser, and a deputy national organiser.”
He added, “We still have the chaplain-general and other responsibilities and portfolios. And we no longer have a national convener - we now have a president of the Afrika Mayibuye Movement.”
“We have two deputy presidents of the Afrika Mayibuye Movement. And it's still the same leadership that led us to this process. So I am speaking now as the president of the Afrika Mayibuye Movement.”
As part of the final formalisation of founding the organisation, Shivambu said a national convention will be convened.
“A national convention will give a historical background of the many conventions that happened in South Africa. Before the Union of South Africa, there was a national convention of whites only.”
“We united the four provinces - the Cape, Transvaal, Natal, and the Orange River Colony - to form the Union of South Africa. In response, in 1909, there was a convention called by Black people to respond to the formation of the Union.”
“In 1912, the gathering that founded the South African National Native Congress was a national convention.”
He further referenced conventions from different eras.
“When the Freedom Charter was adopted, Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe responded by founding the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania through a national convention held in Orlando.”
“The Black Consciousness Movement culminated in a Black People’s Convention led by President Winifred Kgware from Thaba Nchu.”
“When South Africa transitioned from apartheid to democracy, the negotiations took place in the Convention for a Democratic South Africa - CODESA.”
Shivambu said the Afrika Mayibuye Movement will follow this tradition.
“The Afrika Mayibuye Movement is going to convene a national convention to adopt the founding document and the Restoration Manifesto, deliberate on the draft constitution, and discuss what is to be done.”
“Even though we have listened to the people of South Africa and have received an overwhelming mandate, we are still waiting to receive further input on our founding documents, which will be made available for public comment.”
He added that the importance of public participation is to shape the party.
“The people of South Africa should never underestimate the value of their contributions and perspectives in shaping a movement.”
“We are very different people. We are much more mature, more knowledgeable, and more experienced. In the period during which we listened to different people, we all gained a clear perspective and vision on what is to be done.”
“That is the character and nature of the movement we are building - one based on the will of the people.”
Shivambu said the national convention will be attended by 2,000 delegates from all South African municipalities, along with guests including traditional and royal leaders, faith-based organisations, and trade union representatives.
Shivambu was dismissed from the MK Party in June following a fallout. His departure came after he attended an Easter church service in Malawi led by fugitive preacher Shepherd Bushiri.
He had joined the MK Party in August last year after leaving the EFF, where he served as the party’s deputy president.
simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za
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