Floyd Shivambu says his newly formed Mayibuye Afrika Movement has grown in four months to a stage the EFF only reached after nearly a decade. Image: X@FloydShivambu
(The Post News) – Floyd Shivambu says his Afrika Mayibuye Movement hit milestones in 4 months the EFF missed in 10 years.
Shivambu spoke at a media briefing in Midrand.
He said the movement had reached a level of political maturity and grassroots support. This achievement should have taken the EFF eight or nine years to build.
“The other one is the EFF which we founded. It is delusional,” Shivambu said.
He criticised his former party for losing its revolutionary edge. He claimed the EFF had become entangled in “palace politics” and failed to deliver on its promises of radical transformation. In contrast, he described Afrika Mayibuye as a movement rooted in total emancipation. It focuses clearly on land redistribution, industrialization, decolonized education, and respect for traditional leadership.
From EFF to Mayibuye
Shivambu’s departure from the EFF in August 2024 marked a turning point in his political career. He had a brief stint with the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party. This ended in expulsion in June 2025. He then launched the Afrika Mayibuye Movement to offer what he calls a “genuine alternative” to South Africa’s political establishment.
The party’s branding has drawn comparisons to the EFF, particularly its logo and colour scheme. Shivambu dismissed these claims, stating that he conceptualised both designs and that the Mayibuye emblem is distinct. He emphasised that the movement is not a copy of the EFF. It is a corrective force. It aims at restoring the original vision of economic liberation.
Afrika Mayibuye has already begun mobilising supporters across provinces. Shivambu claims strong traction among youth, traditional leaders, and disillusioned former EFF members. The party is preparing for a national launch and plans to contest the 2026 general elections.
During the briefing on Wednesday, he argued that South Africa lacks a genuine liberation movement. He positioned the Afrika Mayibuye Movement as filling that void. The movement offers revolutionary politics that put the needs and aspirations of ordinary citizens first.
Shivambu stressed that his organisation is unapologetically committed to this mission. Addressing critics who predict the new party will fade away, he insisted that the Afrika Mayibuye Movement is permanent.
Malema Responds, Analysts Weigh In
EFF leader Julius Malema responded to Shivambu’s remarks with a dismissive “mxm” on social media.
This signaled the growing rift between the two former allies.
Image Credit:
SABC-News-Julius-Malema-@EFFSouthAfrica
In an earlier separate interview, Malema reportedly said “He’s talking rubbish.” He was referring to Shivambu’s comments about the EFF’s leadership and direction. This occurred after Malema addressed Shivambu’s claim that the EFF had lost its revolutionary purpose.
Malema suggested that Shivambu was bitter. He also implied that Shivambu was attempting to rewrite history.
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