Floyd Shivambu
By Thabo Mosia
Former uMkhonto weSizwe (MK Party) Secretary General Floyd Shivambu faces a lawsuit after labelling party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela a “drunk and drugged fool” in a fiery eNCA interview. The explosive remarks, which also targeted Jacob Zuma’s daughter Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla as “directionless and gullible,” have triggered a legal showdown, with Ndhlela demanding a public apology. This clash follows Shivambu’s dramatic exit from the MK Party and hints at his plans to launch a new political movement, shaking up South Africa’s political scene.
A Lawsuit Brews: Ndhlela Strikes Back
Nhlamulo Ndhlela, the MK Party’s national spokesperson and a sitting MP, is not taking Shivambu’s insults lightly. In response to being called a “drunk and drugged fool,” Ndhlela told IOL News, “My lawyers are going to send him a letter. I want a public apology.” He accused Shivambu of lashing out after his dismissal from the party, saying, “He is clearly wounded and now trying to drag me through the mud.” Ndhlela plans to sue for defamation, arguing that Shivambu’s claims—made during a widely watched eNCA interview on 16 June 2025—have tarnished his reputation.
Shivambu didn’t stop at Ndhlela. He also alleged that Ndhlela manipulates former President Jacob Zuma by feeding him false information, using Zuma’s daughter Duduzile as a pawn. “He’s always on drugs and always high on alcohol in terms of how he deals with issues,” Shivambu said of Ndhlela, adding that Duduzile is “otherwise very gullible and directionless.” Ndhlela hit back, defending Duduzile and dismissing Shivambu’s attacks as the rants of a “directionless” man desperate to stay relevant.
The Fallout: Shivambu’s Exit from MK Party
Shivambu’s troubles began when he was sacked as MK Party Secretary General on 3 June 2025. The party initially pointed to an unauthorised trip to Malawi in April, where he attended a service led by fugitive pastor Shepherd Bushiri. But the real story was messier. A detailed charge sheet later revealed accusations of gross negligence, abuse of office, leaking secrets, and even turning a blind eye to factional threats. Party leader Jacob Zuma used Shivambu’s dismissal as a warning during a Youth Day speech on 16 June in Clermont, Durban, saying, “If one of us goes astray, we don’t beg.”
Despite promises of a redeployment to Parliament, Shivambu’s name was missing from the MK Party’s latest list of nine new MPs, announced on 21 June 2025 and sworn in on 25 June. Ndhlela blamed delays with the Electoral Commission, but insiders suggest internal resistance. Some party members see Shivambu as a lone wolf who stirred chaos, a view echoed by Ndhlela, who claimed, “People were happiest when he was removed.”
Shivambu’s Defence and New Ambitions
In the eNCA interview, Shivambu painted himself as a victim of jealousy and paranoia within the MK Party. “Politically, I was far more qualitatively superior to all the people I found in the leadership of uMkhonto weSizwe,” he boasted, crediting his experience from co-founding the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). He accused Ndhlela and others of feeding Zuma lies, saying, “It includes an imbecile, a fool called Nhlamulo Ndhlela, one of the foolish leaders of the MK Party.”
On 19 June 2025, Shivambu held a media briefing at the Mhulu Luxury Boutique Hotel in Midrand, Gauteng, distancing himself from the MK Party’s official stance. Wearing an MK cap, he insisted he remains a member but announced a nationwide consultation to explore forming a new political movement. “We will be consulting all the traditional leaders, church leaders, and prominent South Africans,” he said, promising a party that’s not a “family project” or “cult.” Rumours swirl that this could be “Mayibuye iAfrica,” a nod to liberation slogans he’s used recently.
Jacob Zuma’s Shadow
Jacob Zuma looms large in this saga. During his Youth Day speech, he praised the youth for their role in South Africa’s fight for freedom but stressed discipline, citing Shivambu’s removal. “We’ve already had seven Secretaries-General… you are loved, but we don’t care,” he said. Zuma also rallied the crowd against economic hardship and electoral fraud, asking, “Why aren’t we asking ‘Where are our votes?’”
Shivambu, however, claims deep respect for Zuma. At the media briefing, he said, “I’ve learned more in the six months than I learned in the 10 years I was deputy president of the EFF.” Yet, he accused Zuma’s inner circle of exploiting the 82-year-old’s “gullibility” with “fake intelligence reports” to oust him. One bizarre report alleged Shivambu sought “supernatural powers” to make rivals vanish—a claim he dismissed as “absolute rubbish.”
Political Rivals Weigh In
The drama has drawn sharp reactions. EFF spokesperson Sinawo Thambo flagged Shivambu’s claims of MK Party corruption—R7 million allegedly vanishing monthly from party funds and foreign funding from Morocco—as “lawfully troubling.” He urged investigations, saying, “These two things are of national concern.” Meanwhile, ANC Youth League’s Collen Malatji mocked Shivambu as “a small boy” with no base, adding, “I don’t want Floyd in the ANC; I want Julius.”
Political analyst Tshidi Madisa, speaking on 702’s The Political Desk, called Zuma a master tactician who “dealt with the political brotherhood” of Shivambu and Julius Malema. “He’s someone who doesn’t let go,” she said, noting Shivambu’s allegations of MK Party crimes could land him in legal hot water if unproven.
New Details: Money, Power, and Controversy
Fresh insights reveal more layers. Shivambu accused Ndhlela of trying to “hijack” the MK Party by altering accounting officer names before his exit—a move Ndhlela denied, countering that Shivambu’s Malawi trip was a solo lie. Party insiders also whisper of tribal tensions, with some claiming Shivambu’s marginalisation reflects ethnic bias—a charge he denied, saying, “There’s no tribalism in the organization.”
Shivambu’s Malawi visit remains a flashpoint. He told journalists he’d discussed it with Zuma, who initially backed him, only for others to spin it against him later. Some allege the trip was a fundraising bid for his rumoured new party, a theory bolstered by claims of foreign influence—like Morocco’s alleged sway over MK policy on Western Sahara, which Shivambu opposed.
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