The South African MK Party swiftly removes its secretary-general following a breach of party conduct relating to a controversial pastor's visit.
Political Fallout: South African Leader Ousted for Associating with Fugitive Pastor
Political Fallout: South African Leader Ousted for Associating with Fugitive Pastor
Floyd Shivambu's controversial visit to the fugitive Shepherd Bushiri leads to his demotion from a top political position.
In a significant political shake-up, Floyd Shivambu, the secretary-general of South Africa's uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, has been relieved of his duties after attending an Easter service led by the fugitive Malawian pastor, Shepherd Bushiri. This decision, announced by party officials during a press conference, follows Shivambu's controversial visit in April which raised eyebrows regarding party adherence to its constitution.
Bushiri, once a prominent figure in southern Africa's religious landscape, has been wanted by South African authorities since his 2020 arrest on fraud charges, after which he controversially escaped to Malawi. The MK leadership deemed Shivambu’s actions as detrimental to the party’s image and "against the spirit and prescripts" of its governing rules.
While stating that the trip to Bushiri's church was unofficial, MK official Nathi Nhleko emphasized the necessity for a quick response to preserve party unity and integrity. Despite his dismissal from the secretary-general position, Shivambu will continue as a party member and represent MK in the National Assembly.
Shivambu, who joined the MK in August of the previous year from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), expressed that he "fully accepts" the decision and looks forward to fulfilling his parliamentary role. Since its inception, the MK party, founded by former President Jacob Zuma, has played a crucial role in South Africa's evolving political landscape, even contributing to the shift in power dynamics in the last elections where the ANC lost its long-standing majority.
Bushiri, once a prominent figure in southern Africa's religious landscape, has been wanted by South African authorities since his 2020 arrest on fraud charges, after which he controversially escaped to Malawi. The MK leadership deemed Shivambu’s actions as detrimental to the party’s image and "against the spirit and prescripts" of its governing rules.
While stating that the trip to Bushiri's church was unofficial, MK official Nathi Nhleko emphasized the necessity for a quick response to preserve party unity and integrity. Despite his dismissal from the secretary-general position, Shivambu will continue as a party member and represent MK in the National Assembly.
Shivambu, who joined the MK in August of the previous year from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), expressed that he "fully accepts" the decision and looks forward to fulfilling his parliamentary role. Since its inception, the MK party, founded by former President Jacob Zuma, has played a crucial role in South Africa's evolving political landscape, even contributing to the shift in power dynamics in the last elections where the ANC lost its long-standing majority.
