Former members of the MK Party, including Patrick Sindane, Luther Lebelo, and Menzi Magubane, alongside former EFF members Vusi Khoza and Fana Mokoena, have been appointed as leaders of the Mayibuye Consultation Process.

This announcement was made by Floyd Shivambu, the former secretary-general of the MK Party, during a press briefing held on Friday in Midrand, Johannesburg.

Shivambu also announced that former ANC member Lazola Ndamase and the controversial Bishop Stephen Zondo, leader of the Rivers of Living Waters Ministries, are part of the leadership team.

Zondo has faced serious allegations of sexual assault, with many of the accusers being members of his church. Additionally, veteran radio broadcaster Sydney Baloyi has joined the group.

Shivambu announced that he will be the national convener of both the Mayibuye National Consultation Team and the Mayibuye Consultation Process.

He said the group will engage in public consultations, after which a national convention will be held to decide the next steps.

“Then we will prepare – if the mandate is that we must contest the 2026 local government elections and the 2029 general elections, we’re going to do so and win those elections decisively,” he said.

Shivambu was recently removed from his position as deputy secretary-general of the MK Party and excluded from the list of new MPs sworn into Parliament.

Last week, he announced plans to launch a consultation committee to determine whether there is a need for a new political party.

“But all of that is dependent on the work we are going to do in different communities,” Shivambu said. 

“The people of South Africa, you are all called upon with humility from us to be tolerant with the process we’re engaged in and to make meaningful contributions – shape a movement, if it is a movement that we are going to pursue.”

Shivambu added, “Let us move away from organisations that are nothing but family projects. Let us constitute national movements that are representative of all our people, that are honest, that are transparent, and that will inspire hope.”

He added that several political parties have expressed interest in the Mayibuye Consultation Process.

“More than 10 political parties, represented in various municipal councils, have approached us saying they would like to be part of the consultation process,” he said. 

“These parties come from all corners of South Africa.”

He said the movement has also received a list of volunteers through an online platform and that ordinary South Africans are being invited to participate.

“We are deeply humbled by the confidence of those who came forward and pledged solidarity and volunteered their time for the consultation process we are embarking on,” he said.

Shivambu added that the decision to launch a political party would depend on the outcome of the consultations.

simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za

IOL Politics

Source link