Former EFF deputy leader and ex-MK Party Secretary-General Floyd Shivambu has officially launched the Mayibuye Consultation Process, a national listening campaign aimed at exploring whether South Africa needs a new political liberation movement. In an exclusive interview on Hilal TV’s Talking Point, Shivambu emphasised the process is not yet a political party, but could evolve into one—if the people demand it.
Shivambu, now the national convenor of the Mayibuye initiative, said the consultation would engage youth, workers, women, students, religious bodies, and traditional leaders to assess whether the current political parties—including the ANC, EFF, and MK Party—can still deliver real transformation.
“Our view is that the former liberation movement, the ANC, is no longer a fighting instrument for total liberation,” Shivambu stated. “And even the EFF and MK Party have internal weaknesses that seem irreparable. That’s why we are asking society: what is to be done?”
Shivambu cited voter apathy—only 18 million of 41 million eligible citizens voted in the 2024 general elections—as proof that South Africans are losing confidence in mainstream politics. He proposed that any future movement should be built on accountability, service delivery, anti-imperialism, and grassroots mobilisation, rather than existing as “just a talking instrument.”
He also called for the new movement to adopt a practical approach—highlighting community service initiatives like building boreholes, running health screenings, and offering education support in neglected rural areas.
Critics have questioned whether the Mayibuye Process is just a backdoor to forming a new party. Shivambu denied this, stating: “It would be disingenuous to claim we are listening to people but already have a blueprint. If they say form a political party, we will. If they say no, we won’t.”
Shivambu reiterated his socialist and anti-colonial political orientation, drawing inspiration from China and Vietnam’s Marxist-driven development. He condemned the ANC’s adoption of neoliberal capitalism since the 1990s, blaming it for unemployment, inequality, and deindustrialisation.
On international solidarity, Shivambu reaffirmed his support for Palestine and criticised parts of the Muslim Judicial Council for what he called “opportunistic mischaracterisation” of his record based on a church visit that displayed multiple flags, including that of Israel. “We have never associated with apartheid Israel and we never will,” he said.
Regarding his current MK Party membership, Shivambu said he remains a member but is ready to resign if the Mayibuye process evolves into a party that requires exclusive affiliation. “Membership doesn’t define your being,” he said, adding, “I know the limitations of those structures—I’ve sat in all of them.”
The consultation will reach out to churches, mosques, synagogues, community forums, and even foreign missions. A Council of Elders will oversee the process and its findings. If the public calls for a new party, Shivambu said it would contest the 2026 local government elections, but only with a clear mandate and structure.
“The goal,” he said, “is not just participation, but meaningful transformation that future generations can be proud of.”
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