'Zuma usleg': Mbalula on Shivambu's removal as MK Party secretary-general
ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has criticised MK Party leader Jacob Zuma for his decision to fire Floyd Shivambu as a top official.
Shivambu was removed as the MK Party's secretary-general on Tuesday. His removal stems from his unauthorised visit to fugitive 'prophet' Shepherd Bushiri's church in Malawi over Easter weekend, which the party deemed contrary to its constitution.
Mbalula took to X saying: 'Zuma usleg [Zuma is bad]. They made Shivambu draft the constitution to only use the same constitution to remove him.'
However, Shivambu fired back at Mbalula's criticism, referencing the ANC's poor election results in 2024, which led the party to form a government of national unity with other parties. 'Like he decisively used the constitution to take the 'mighty' ANC to 40% and left you begging for co-operation with the white minority,' he said.
Despite the controversy, Shivambu expressed respect for Zuma, saying: 'I respect and will forever respect president Zuma.'
After his removal, Shivambu was redeployed to serve in the National Assembly as an MP, a decision he accepted. 'I'm truly and genuinely grateful for the tasks given and the redeployment. We will serve with excellence and discipline.'

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


eNCA
8 hours ago
- eNCA
Can families of apartheid victims get closure?
JOHANNESBURG - For families of apartheid-era victims and indeed, for many across South Africa the fight for justice is not just about court proceedings. It's about finding closure, healing, and the hope that truth will finally be acknowledged. WATCH: Cradock 4 Inquest | Families say pain deepened by 'ANC betrayal' This week, the inquest into the 1985 deaths of the Cradock Four has once again brought these emotions to the surface. Among those testifying are family members of the deceased. They had to suffer the blow of learning that the last surviving suspect in these murders has died. What does closure truly mean for victims' families?


Eyewitness News
12 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
Political parties bemoan inadequate protection for whistleblowers
CAPE TOWN - Political parties have bemoaned the inadequate protection for whistleblowers and the failure to reform the laws that will improve this. During an African National Congress (ANC) sponsored debate calling for guaranteed anonymity, job security and legal support for whistleblowers, every speaker referenced the assassination of Babita Deokaran, who was killed outside her house in 2021 for blowing the whistle on corruption at Tembisa Hospital. Parliamentarians said that despite a raft of laws dealing with whistleblowing, they have given rise to a culture of fear among whistleblowers who are punished rather than protected. Parliamentarians have added pressure on the Justice Department to speed up the process of improving its treatment of whistleblowers. The Protected Disclosure Act and Whistleblowing Act are currently under review by the department. The Democratic Alliance (DA)'s Glynnis Breytenbach is calling for the establishment of an independent whistleblower protection agency with prosecutorial referral powers. 'A dedicated, well-funded, autonomous institution must be created to receive disclosures, provide safe channels, investigate threats and offer physical protection.' Rise Mzansi leader Songezo Zibi said employers should be prohibited from disciplining officials who make protected disclosures, and should refund them the cost of litigation if an employee wins the case. 'We must similarly make it impossible for those people to be dismissed until the matter has been closed.' Members of Parliament (MPs) are also calling for an incentive fund that will encourage people to come forward to lift the lid on corruption. ALSO READ: Freedom Under Law echoes calls for protection of investigators, whistleblowers in high-profile cases

TimesLIVE
15 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
GNU ministers spent R200m of taxpayers' money on travelling since taking office
Ministers in the government of national unity (GNU) have spent more than R200m on travel expenses since July last year. This was revealed by ActionSA through its GNU performance tracker after receiving replies to parliamentary questions sent to ministers. This week, the party said Deputy President Paul Mashatile and his staff splurged more than R2m on travel expenses for transport and accommodation since last year. In a written reply, Mashatile said he has been on four international trips - to Ireland, Botswana, Zimbabwe and, recently, Japan. A total of R613,214 was spent on flights, R1,235,569 on accommodation and R410,926 for ground transport for all trips. Other costs included laundry services at R8,033 and R51,393 for restaurant services. ActionSA MP Alan Beesley criticised the spending, calling it 'executive indulgence' and 'wasteful expenditure'. 'This sort of wasteful expenditure, an extension of ANC excess now rebranded under the GNU, has become business as usual for the world's most bloated executive,' Beesley said. 'South Africans deserve leadership that puts people before perks and not a R200m travel spree by the world's largest cabinet.' The sport, arts and culture department's travel expenses have also raised concern. Minister Gayton McKenzie said he and his staff undertook 11 international trips costing more than R2m. R164,556 was paid for a trip to Burkina Faso that never took place. 'Not only is this spending exorbitant, but it is riddled with red flags, gaps and inconsistencies. The public paid for flights and accommodation for an event that was abandoned, a textbook case of wasteful expenditure, as defined by the Public Finance Management Act. 'Unless the minister can demonstrate that this loss was unavoidable and efforts were made to recover the funds, this reflects a serious failure of financial oversight and internal control.' ActionSA has introduced the Enhanced Cut Cabinet Perks Bill to address unchecked government spending. 'This bill seeks to slash ministerial perks and restore much-needed fiscal discipline.'