Floyd Shivambu drops political bombshell, eyes new party amid explosive MKP fallout

Former uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) secretary-general Floyd Shivambu on Thursday delivered a scathing public rebuke of his political removal and signalled his return to centre stage with plans to potentially form a new political party.

Speaking at a tense press conference at the Mhulu Luxury Boutique Hotel in Midrand, Shivambu levelled serious accusations at his former comrades and laid out a bold vision for the road ahead.

In a series of startling revelations, Shivambu claimed he was ousted from his post based on a “bizarre and fabricated” intelligence report.

He said the document alleged he was plotting to unseat party leader Jacob Zuma and, even more strangely, accused him of possessing mystical powers. ''There’s a bizarre and fabricated intelligence report claiming I wanted to overthrow President Zuma. It even says I have supernatural powers to make people vanish. This is pure fiction,'' Shivambu said, visibly irate.

Shivambu, a former deputy president of the EFF who joined Zuma’s MK Party in late 2023, was removed from his role as MKP secretary-general on 3 June 2025. Officially, the party cited his Easter visit to fugitive pastor Shepherd Bushiri in Malawi as the reason.

But on Thursday, Shivambu flatly rejected that explanation.“This is not about a church trip. The real reason for my removal is political. The Bushiri visit was just a convenient excuse,” he said. He claimed internal power struggles and paranoia within the MKP’s leadership had led to an orchestrated campaign to push him out.

His remarks, filled with frustration and sarcasm, left no doubt that his relationship with the MKP’s leadership is now deeply fractured. However, despite his open rebellion, Shivambu maintained that he had not left the party.“I have not resigned from uMkhonto weSizwe.

''I will never resign from uMkhonto weSizwe,'' he declared, insisting that joining Zuma’s movement had been “the best decision ever.”

The contradiction was not lost on political analysts, as Shivambu simultaneously unveiled a national consultation process to determine whether there is a need for a new political formation.

“We will be seeking the wisdom of ordinary South Africans… traditional leaders, the Zion Christian Church, the Nazareth Baptist Church, IPCC, Michael Nkuna, Dr Irvin Khoza, Patrice Motsepe, and Kaizer Motaung,” Shivambu said, listing religious and business heavyweights he hopes will advise him. Shivambu made it clear the new party would not follow the typical path of personality-driven politics.

“This will not be a personal project, a cult, or a group of friends. It will not be built around one individual,” he said, in what many interpreted as a veiled jab at Zuma’s leadership style. The press conference came a day after Shivambu reportedly held an unsanctioned media briefing, defying the MKP’s communication protocols. It was a move many insiders say sealed his isolation from the party’s top leadership.

''The MKP has yet to issue a formal response to Shivambu’s latest comments, though sources inside the party described them as “provocative and desperate.” Shivambu is reported to have crossed swords with party leaders who found him to be “aloof and proud”.

Shivambu was for the longest time as critic of President Jacob Zuma, this was the case before Shivambu resigned from his position as deputy president of the EFF to join Zuma’s MKP. He said he had the highest respect for Zuma and learnt in six months at the MKP what he didn’t learn as EFF president for ten years. 

The gloves have come off it seems, as the party is said to be planning to officially terminate  Shivambu’s membership next week.