Nolubabalo Mcinga

Johannesburg – Former deputy president of the Afrika Mayibuye Movement, Nolubabalo Mcinga, has emerged at the helm of a budding civil society collective that firmly opposes Floyd Shivambu’s call for a commission of inquiry into black poverty. In a press release issued this week, Mcinga argued that such commissions often turn into bureaucratic exercises that produce reports without real impact, delaying meaningful change for struggling communities. Her stance comes just weeks after her dismissal from Afrika Mayibuye in October 2025, amid claims of internal conflicts, and signals a growing divide in approaches to tackling poverty in South Africa. The yet-to-be-named movement, born from supporters who rallied behind Mcinga post-dismissal, emphasises direct action over lengthy processes, highlighting frustrations with political tools that fail to deliver for the poor. As debates on economic inequality heat up ahead of the 2026 local elections, Mcinga’s position challenges traditional inquiry methods, calling instead for immediate structural shifts to uplift the marginalised.

Mcinga’s Rejection: Bureaucracy Over Action?

Mcinga described the proposed commission as revolutionary only on paper, warning it risks wasting time and resources without leading to tangible outcomes. “The commission appears revolutionary on paper. Yet it risks consuming time and resources without tangible outcomes,” she stated. She contrasted this with the swift establishment of the Zondo Commission on State Capture, which was set up over a weekend to protect elite interests, while poverty-related initiatives lag behind.
The Zondo Commission, formally the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, ran from 2018 to 2022 and uncovered widespread corruption involving high-level officials and private companies, leading to recommendations for prosecutions and reforms. Mcinga argued that when it comes to black poverty, similar urgency is absent. “The same parliament that rushed to establish the Zondo Commission in a weekend, and the same Presidency that found billions for state capture inquiries, acted because those processes protected elite political interests. Yet when it comes to black poverty, we cannot afford another commission that creates the appearance of action without real change,” the statement read.
She emphasised that symbolic measures do little for those in need, pointing to areas like QwaQwa in the Free State, a former Bantustan known for high poverty rates exceeding 60% and limited access to basic services. “The black child in QwaQwa will not be rescued through hearings, submissions or theoretical debates,” Mcinga said, underscoring how such processes fail to address immediate hardships like food insecurity and unemployment.
The New Movement: A Civil Society Collective Takes Shape
Mcinga clarified that the “we” in her statement refers to a civil society collective that has voluntarily aligned behind her leadership following her ousting from Afrika Mayibuye. “They asked me to lead them. We are building a movement focused on real action, not bureaucracy. We are community members, youth, students, elders, activists and ordinary citizens who want real change. Not endless commissions,” she explained.
The group positions itself as a response to perceived failures in existing political structures, advocating for direct intervention and structural reforms over inquiries. This approach draws from grassroots activism, aiming to mobilise ordinary people for immediate solutions like community-led economic projects and policy advocacy. While the movement remains unnamed, its formation signals a shift towards action-oriented efforts, potentially challenging established parties like the ANC and EFF on poverty issues.
Mcinga’s dismissal from Afrika Mayibuye followed internal tensions, with Shivambu accusing her of cowardice in a public spat. Her supporters, however, see her as a principled leader willing to stand against ineffective strategies. This exodus has quietly grown, with members expressing disillusionment with formal political processes that yield reports but little change.

Shivambu’s Proposal: A Commission for Black Poverty

The controversy centres on Shivambu’s recent call for a commission of inquiry into black poverty, proposed as a way to address intergenerational hardships through systematic study and recommendations. Drawing from historical examples like the Carnegie Commission on white poverty in the 1930s, Shivambu argued it would engage communities for tailored solutions. However, Mcinga dismissed this as another layer of paperwork that delays action, favouring direct interventions instead.
Shivambu’s Afrika Mayibuye Movement, launched in September 2025, has positioned itself as a radical alternative, but Mcinga’s breakaway signals internal rifts over strategy. The proposal has divided opinions, with some seeing it as a vital step for evidence-based policy, while others, like Mcinga, view it as perpetuating inaction.

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Nolubabalo Mcinga

Nolubabalo Mcinga Rejects Floyd Shivambu’s Black Poverty Commission Proposal

Nolubabalo Mcinga

Mcinga’s Rejection: Bureaucracy Over Action?

Shivambu’s Proposal: A Commission for Black Poverty

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