JOHANNESBURG – The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party has terminated the membership of its former secretary-general Floyd Shivambu, accusing him of going rogue and attempting to start a rival political party.
The announcement was made on Friday during a media briefing held by the party’s national office bearers in Johannesburg. MK’s national chairperson, Nathi Nhleko, said Shivambu had crossed a line by making public statements against the party and engaging South Africans about launching a new political formation.
According to Nhleko, Shivambu’s behaviour constituted a “serious violation” of the party’s values and the trust he was entrusted with. A formal expulsion letter was sent to him on 15 July 2025.
“The leadership has taken a decision to summarily terminate his membership,” Nhleko told journalists. “He publicly placed himself outside the ideological framework of the MK party.”
Shivambu, who once served as deputy president of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) before jumping ship to MK, had not publicly responded by the time of the announcement. The MK party said it would not engage in further discussion over the matter.
Nhleko dismissed suggestions that the party was in turmoil following Shivambu’s exit. He said internal restructuring was part of organisational maturity.
“It’s like any strategy—when it doesn’t work, you fix it,” he said, brushing aside the perception of instability.
The party’s leadership also announced that Bongani Mncwango would replace Shivambu as secretary-general. Mncwango, who boasts more than three decades in leadership, previously served as CEO of Netcare 911 and chaired the Qwabe Traditional Leadership Council.
Nomsa Dlamini has been appointed deputy secretary-general.
During the same briefing, MK party president Jacob Zuma took a swipe at critics of the party’s constant leadership reshuffles.
“We are not here to play,” Zuma said. “If you are not disciplined, we will tell you to move out of the way.”
Zuma also addressed controversy surrounding his recent diplomatic visit to Morocco, where he was pictured using the South African flag. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) accused him of misrepresenting the country.
Zuma dismissed the backlash, arguing that the national flag belongs to all South Africans—not just the government.
“Every citizen owns that flag,” he said. “It’s not exclusive to any administration.”
Zuma is expected to embark on a continental tour, visiting African countries where South Africa’s official diplomatic ties have come under strain. His party maintains that South Africa is currently “leaderless” and that Zuma is stepping in where government diplomacy has failed.
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