South African politician Floyd Shivambu has been sacked as the Secretary-General of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party following a controversial visit to fugitive Malawian pastor Shepherd Bushiri earlier this year.
Shivambu, who had held one of the top roles in the newly formed MK party, was removed barely six months into the job. His visit to Bushiri’s church during an Easter service in April was deemed to have gone against the party’s constitution and values.
Bushiri, a self-proclaimed prophet and millionaire preacher, fled South Africa in 2020 while on bail after being arrested for fraud and money laundering. Despite efforts by South African authorities to extradite him from Malawi, Bushiri has maintained his innocence and is currently challenging a court ruling approving his return.
The MK party, which was established in December 2023 by former President Jacob Zuma, announced Shivambu’s removal at a press conference on Wednesday. MK national chairperson Nathi Nhleko explained that Shivambu’s trip to Malawi was not approved by the party and violated internal policies.
“The president and national officials were left with no other option but to act swiftly,” Nhleko said. He stressed that the visit was not part of any official MK programme.
Despite his demotion, Shivambu remains a member of the MK party and will now represent the party in the National Assembly. In his response, he accepted the decision, saying: “I fully accept the position taken by the party and look forward to contributing in parliament.”
Shivambu joined MK in August 2023 from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and was later appointed Secretary-General. He played a key role in the party’s strong performance in the recent general elections, where MK came third — significantly contributing to the ruling ANC’s loss of its parliamentary majority for the first time since 1994.
The controversy began when Shivambu reposted a video shared by Bushiri during the Easter weekend, in which the preacher introduced him to a large congregation at his Jesus Nation church. Shivambu praised Bushiri in the post, commending his “good work” and thanking him for hosting them.
This move was met with harsh criticism from both the public and within MK ranks. Many saw it as a sign of poor judgment, especially given Bushiri’s criminal charges, including rape, and the widespread belief that he took advantage of vulnerable followers by selling so-called “miracle oil” and making dubious spiritual claims.
Bushiri has often claimed to perform miracles such as curing HIV, making the blind see, and even walking on air. While he has denied all allegations, his reputation remains deeply controversial across Southern Africa.
Shivambu’s removal marks the sixth change in the Secretary-General position in just two years for the MK party. Political analyst Sanet Solomon from the University of the Free State said the move was expected given the negative publicity.
“His removal does raise questions around leadership retention and succession planning as the party prepares for its role in parliament,” Solomon told the BBC. She added that Shivambu’s leadership style and tensions with other senior figures also contributed to his downfall.
These tensions were evident earlier in the year when Duduzile Zuma, daughter of Jacob Zuma, publicly criticised Shivambu on X (formerly Twitter), calling him “useless” and “the worst thing that happened to MK”. She later issued an apology.
Despite remaining in the party for now, Solomon believes Shivambu may not stay much longer. “It would not be surprising if Shivambu soon announces his departure from the party,” she said.
As the MK party finds its footing in the South African political landscape, Shivambu’s removal is another sign of the growing pains and internal divisions that could shape its future.
