In a bold reconfiguration signaling renewed vigor for revolutionary change, the Afrika Mayibuye Movement (AMM) has announced a new national leadership team led by President Nyiko Floyd Shivambu. The overhaul, described as a “separation of wheat from chaff,” replaces two former deputy presidents and two ex-deputy secretaries general, aiming to sharpen the party’s focus on escalating the struggle for total freedom, land restitution, and social justice.
The announcement came at the close of a two-day national officials’ meeting on November 28-29, where leaders confronted pressing challenges with “unflinching determination.” Shivambu, the 42-year-old firebrand who founded the AMM in September after his expulsion from Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), emphasized that this is no mere administrative tweak. “It avows our unbreakable solidarity and affirms our readiness to escalate the struggle for total freedom and emancipation now, land restitution now, and social justice now,” the press release stated.
The restructured lineup embodies diversity, expertise, and revolutionary commitment, handpicked for their prowess in forging an unyielding front against inequality, poverty, and disenfranchisement. Key appointments include:
– 1st Deputy President: Thato wa Magogodi Sibisi
– 2nd Deputy President: Nonssa ka-Mashobane Sibisi
– 3rd Deputy President: Siphephele Cyprian Mahlaba, who will also preside over KwaZulu-Natal as Provincial Chairperson in a dual role to amplify presence there
– Secretary General: Lazol Ndamese
– 1st Deputy Secretary General: Mzwandile Goge, convenor of the new Mayibuye Workers Desk
– 2nd Deputy Secretary General: Nosipho Makamba
– National Chairperson: Mmabatho Mokauke
– Deputy National Chairperson: Siniwe Mkhatshwa
– National Organiser: Patrick Lindiwe
– Deputy National Organiser: Lindy Spires
– Treasurer General: Tshepo Manhanuke
– Fundraiser General: Menzi Magubane
– Chaplain General: Archbishop Bafana Zondo
These changes eliminate opportunistic resignations and long-overdue replacements, retaining institutional memory through figures like Mahlaba, the founding National Coordinator of the Mayibuye Consultation Process. The collective has full confidence in this team, urging all members and ground forces to offer unwavering support.
In a strategic pivot, officials resolved to launch the Mayibuye Workers Desk, led by Goge, to champion exploited sectors: EPWP workers, CWP workers, security guards, petrol attendants, retail workers, and farm laborers. “These workers represent the economy’s backbone yet face denial of dignity,” the statement declared, underscoring AMM’s commitment to proletarian emancipation.
Shivambu’s ascent follows a turbulent path: from co-founding the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in 2013 to his brief MKP stint as secretary-general in late 2024, ending in a June 2025 dismissal amid witchcraft allegations and power struggles. Analysts view the AMM as a hybrid of EFF radicalism and MKP populism, targeting 2026 local elections with calls for “Mayibuye iAfrika!” – reclaiming Africa’s dignity.
Critics, however, decry the swift purges as echoing Zuma’s authoritarian playbook, labeling it a “one-man choir” allergic to internal democracy. Supporters counter that such ruthlessness is essential for a movement untainted by cults or family fiefdoms. As South Africa’s political feedlot grows crowded, Shivambu’s gamble could siphon votes from disillusioned radicals, or fracture further under scrutiny.
With the party now formalized, eyes turn to its manifesto rollout. For now, the message is clear: under this leadership, the fight for radical economic transformation intensifies – no holds barred.
