Shivambu vs Mbalula: Tensions rise online
African National Congress (ANC) secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula, has fired shots at former UmKhonto WeSizwe (MK) Party secretary-general Floyd Shivambu. Mbalula compared the politician to a 'horrible accident'.
ADVERTISEMENT
This came days after Shivambu's media briefing about the country's political climate. Mbalula took to X to share a video of himself responding to the claims that the ANC is directionless. The former transport minister said Shivambu's remarks are slanderous.
'Floyd doesn't have any record of giving direction to anything, so we'll just take that as, you know, slanderous remarks coming from a failed politician,' said Mbalula.
The ANC member also commented on Shivambu's demotion from the secretary-general position. He described Shivambu's political career as unbelievable but wished him luck in his future.
SHIVAMBU IN HOT WATER OVER MK PARTY REMARKS
During a television interview, Shivambu also made scathing remarks about the MK Party's leadership. He claimed that MK Party president Jacob Zuma is surrounded by people who take advantage of his age.
ADVERTISEMENT
Shivambu also alleged that MK Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela 'always' uses drugs and alcohol. Ndhlela has now demanded a public apology. In a letter, Ndhlela said Shivambu has 48 hours to apologise and retract his remarks or face legal action. Ndhlela thereafter shared a negative drug test on X.
NATIONAL CONSULTATION PROCESS LAUNCHED
Despite the controversy, Shivambu said he has no plans to resign from the MK Party. However, he has launched a national consultation process to seek guidance on the country's political climate. The Mayibuye Engagement Team said thousands of citizens are set to participate in the initiative.
The nationwide engagement aims to inquire if there is a need for a new political party to be formed. In a statement, the team says the process is not just a campaign but a listening session. The Mayibuye Engagement Team also seeks to find out the values, priorities, and principles needed to govern a new party, should it be formed.
DO YOU THINK SHIVAMBU HAS RUINED HIS REPUTATION?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 11.
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Joburg Mayor Dada Morero survives DA-led motion of no-confidence
Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero has survived a motion of no confidence brought by the Democratic Alliance (DA), just 10 months into his term. The DA accused Morero of failing to restore basic service delivery and presiding over a deteriorating administration in South Africa's economic hub. During Wednesday's council vote, 75 councillors supported the motion, while 144 voted against it. Forty-three abstained. 'The councillors who abstained from this voting process: 43. The yeses – 75. The nos -144. The motion does not pass,' said council Speaker Nobuhle Mthembu. This prompted cheers from Morero's supporters, including members of his mayoral committee. The motion failed despite earlier signs that opposition parties such as ActionSA would not defend Morero's leadership. ActionSA national chairperson Michael Beaumont said before the vote that the party had informed the ANC it would not back Morero. 'We have come to this conclusion because service delivery in Johannesburg has collapsed,' Beaumont said. 'Traffic lights are not working, streets are falling apart, electricity and water outages are worse than ever.' He also criticised Morero's dismissive approach to the city's challenges. 'We'll just repair the potholes on the routes of the G20,' and 'Don't expect a lot under my mayoral team,' Beaumont quoted Morero as saying. 'I'm afraid Johannesburg residents aspire to more than that kind of leadership, and ActionSA aspires to more than that kind of leadership.' The Johannesburg City Council has 270 seats; 136 votes were needed for the motion to pass. With 71 seats, the DA required support from other parties to remove Morero. Morero, who also chairs the ANC's regional structure in Johannesburg, was not the only official under fire. Motions of no confidence against ANC Chief Whip Sthembiso Zungu and Speaker Mthembu (an ActionSA member) are expected to follow. The DA's motion accused Morero of mismanagement, fostering patronage networks, and lacking transparency. It claimed his administration had overseen declining basic services, neglected communities, and stalled governance. 'Johannesburg deserves better,' the DA said in a statement. The party also criticised Mthembu, accusing her of shielding the mayor from scrutiny and undermining council procedures. 'Her actions have demonstrated that she is no longer independent,' the statement said. 'The DA will not stand by while Johannesburg is hijacked by narrow political interests. We owe it to every resident to fight for a council that works, a mayor who leads, and a speaker who upholds the rules with fairness and impartiality.' [email protected] IOL Politics
Eyewitness News
5 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
12 new MK Party and PA members sworn in as MPs
CAPE TOWN - Twelve new Parliamentarians will be in the National Assembly on Wednesday afternoon, after being sworn in by the Speaker. Nine of those members of Parliament (MPs) will be filling vacant seats of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, while another three from the Patriotic Alliance (PA) will be replacing members who have been redeployed by the party. Speaker Thoko Didiza has appealed to them to always respect the decorum of the house, and to always remember that they ultimately serve the people of South Africa. Among the nine new MK Party members only Khanyisile Litchfield-Tshabalala, a former South African Navy rear-admiral, has served as an MP before, representing the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) between 2014 and 2015. Despite earlier announcements by the party, its former secretary general, Floyd Shivambu, has not made a return to Parliament. The MK Party last welcomed new MPs to the fold in August 2024, after axing more than a dozen members following a fallout over membership and the list process. It has had to wait out the post-election period before making changes to its candidate lists. Didiza appealed to the new MPs to exercise their duties with diligence. 'Because we do come from different parties, we will differ about how we see things on the issues that are being debated, but what is important is to do that in the manner that still respects one another.' The official opposition will now have all its 58 seats filled for the first time since the swearing-in of new members following the elections.
Eyewitness News
5 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
Joburg Mayor Dada Morero survives no-confidence motion
JOHANNESBURG - Johannesburg Mayor and African National Congress (ANC) councillor Dada Morero lives to see another day in office, after a motion of no confidence against him failed to pass. Councillors voted on the Democratic Alliance's (DA) motion on Wednesday, with a majority backing Morero to stay put. The DA had tabled the motion, accusing the mayor of failing to address service delivery challenges in the city. Morero secured backing from the majority of parties in council, most of whom are part of the ANC-led coalition government. Council Speaker and ActionSA councillor Nobuhle Mthembu announced the results. "The results are as follows: forty-three councillors abstained. Seventy-five voted in support of the motion and 144 voted against it. Therefore, the motion does not pass." The Speaker, who was deployed to the council by ActionSA, will also to face a no-confidence motion on Wednesday afternoon. The bid for Mthembu's ousting was filed by the Al-Jama-Ah Party, accusing her of incompetence. Whip of council and ANC member Sthembiso Zungu will also face a no vote on Wednesday. DA EXPRESSES DISAPPOINTMENT Meanwhile, the DA in Johannesburg has expressed disappointment after its motion of no confidence in Morero was unsuccessful. While ActionSA abstained from the vote, the ANC-led coalition still had enough numbers to keep Morero in the position. The DA's regional leader, Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku, says it's unfortunate that Morero will continue as mayor. "While parties in council chose positions over principles today [Wednesday], the DA can proudly say that it brought forward a motion to dismiss the man presiding over Johannesburg's decay. No amount of spin by a failing executive can conceal Johannesburg's rot and decay, but the residents of Johannesburg will not forget."
