JOHANNESBURG – Floyd Shivambu, the former Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) deputy president, has officially declared that his newly launched political movement, Afrika Mayibuye, is preparing to contest the 2026 local government elections. Speaking to his supporters in Gauteng over the weekend, Floyd Shivambu revealed that the party is currently in the process of registering its consultative structures with the intention of becoming a formidable player in South Africa’s political landscape.
The announcement comes just a year after Shivambu’s dramatic political fallout. After parting ways with the EFF, he briefly joined the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, only to be expelled from the organisation led by former President Jacob Zuma. This turbulent political journey has not discouraged him—instead, it appears to have galvanized his ambitions.
In June 2025, Floyd Shivambu unveiled the Afrika Mayibuye project, a new political vision he said would address the needs of the working class and ordinary South Africans. This announcement came shortly after his removal as secretary-general of the MK Party, further highlighting his ever-evolving political trajectory.
Floyd Shivambu Announces the Afrika Mayibuye Movement
Despite being expelled from MK, Floyd Shivambu appears more focused than ever. Speaking confidently to his Gauteng base, he declared, “We are already registering the Afrika Mayibuye movement as a political party, which will contest elections in 2026, 2029, and moving forward.”
This move marks Shivambu’s re-entry into active electoral politics, positioning himself and his new movement as a potential disruptor to both mainstream and fringe political forces ahead of the next municipal polls.
Although the announcement to contest the 2026 elections is now public, Floyd Shivambu clarified that the consultative process is still ongoing. His team is working to finalise the structure and reach of the Afrika Mayibuye movement before its formal registration with the Electoral Commission.
“We are still going to KwaZulu-Natal,” said Floyd Shivambu, noting the province’s importance in shaping his previous political journey with the MK Party. “The people of KwaZulu-Natal have been saying to us, ‘Please come to KwaZulu-Natal.’ We almost made a mistake last year; we want to correct that mistake.”
KwaZulu-Natal remains a key political battleground, especially for new parties seeking grassroots support. Given that the province was central to MK’s electoral base, Shivambu’s desire to return and build a foundation there suggests strategic planning ahead of the 2026 elections.
The past year has been a whirlwind for Floyd Shivambu. After spending years at the forefront of the EFF alongside Julius Malema, he abruptly left the party under unclear circumstances. He then aligned himself with the newly-formed MK Party, only to be removed in an internal shake-up that left many political observers questioning his future.
Now, with Afrika Mayibuye, Shivambu seems to have found a political home he believes can outlast the turbulence of the last 12 months. Despite his revolving-door experience with political affiliations, he asserts that Afrika Mayibuye is here to stay.
“This is not just about politics,” said Shivambu. “It’s about correcting the historical injustices and giving ordinary South Africans a true voice.”
While specific policies are yet to be formally released, Afrika Mayibuye, which means “Africa Must Return” in isiXhosa, aims to address deep-seated socio-economic inequalities, land redistribution, and economic transformation. It is expected to carry a Pan-Africanist and leftist ideological framework similar to Shivambu’s previous affiliations but with a focus on grassroots empowerment.
Supporters say the movement is meant to bring politics back to the people, positioning itself as a true alternative to the status quo. With the national discourse shifting rapidly amid declining trust in traditional political parties, Shivambu believes the time is ripe for a new political force that resonates with the public.
As the political calendar inches closer to the 2026 local government elections, Floyd Shivambu and the Afrika Mayibuye movement are moving quickly to organise their structures, register with the IEC, and solidify their base of support. Despite past controversies, Shivambu is now focused on the future—and on proving his critics wrong.
The question remains whether South Africans will rally behind this new movement or view it as yet another splinter in an already fragmented political system. Either way, Floyd Shivambu has made his intentions clear: he’s not backing down.
Source- EWN
