A new political entity, the Mayibuye Afrika Movement (Mayibuye) led by its president, Floyd Shivambu, has officially entered South Africa’s political arena.
Shivambu, who previously served as the secretary-general of the MK Party, said that Mayibuye is not merely contesting for participation but with a clear objective of securing victory.
“We are going to contest all the wards in the 2026 local government elections. We are going to contest to win all the municipalities in 2026,” he said.
The formation of Mayibuye follows an extensive national consultation process that commenced in June, with Shivambu saying there is a deep-seated desire among South Africans to be genuinely heard.
The movement, now officially registered as a political party under the Electoral Commission Act of 1996, also unveiled its foundational document, the Africa Mayibuye Restoration Manifesto.
Shivambu said their manifesto serves as the bedrock of the movement’s ideological stance, outlining the challenges facing South Africa and Mayibuye’s proposed solutions to pressing issues such as landlessness, persistent inequality, and the burgeoning national debt.
Shivambu affirmed Mayibuye’s commitment to achieving total political, economic, and cultural liberation “now, and not tomorrow.”
The manifesto, which has been made publicly available online for further citizen input, identifies “100 reasons” for the movement’s inception.
Beyond its political aspirations and policy proposals, Mayibuye has also formalised its internal structures.
Shivambu announced the transition from temporary structures to permanent leadership roles, with a national core team and officials already approved. The new leadership includes a president (Shivambu), two deputy presidents, a secretary-general, deputy secretary-generals, a national chairperson, a deputy chairperson, a national organiser, a deputy organiser, and other vital portfolios.
Shivambu said the colour palette held significant meaning: black for African identity, green for land and rebirth, gold for Africa’s wealth, red for the blood of martyrs, and purple to symbolize royalty and faith traditions.
He confirmed that a national convention will be convened as part of the final formalisation of the organisation.
Political analyst Dr John Molepo said as the Mayibuye Afrika Movement embarks on its journey, its ambitious electoral targets and comprehensive manifesto would undoubtedly place it under intense scrutiny.
“The coming years will reveal whether Shivambu’s optimism translates into tangible political gains and whether Mayibuye can indeed emerge as a dominant force in South African politics,” he said.
He however said he doubted that the new party would win elections but would have an impact on the EFF and the ANC.
mashudu.sadike@inl.co.za
