Floyd Shivambu, leader of the Afrika Mayibuye Movement and former deputy president of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), has highlighted the significant value derived from a recent meeting with Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, leader of the March and March movement. Shivambu remarked that he gained more knowledge and perspective in that single engagement than during his ten years as deputy president of the EFF.
The statement reflects Shivambu’s assessment of the bilateral meeting held in Johannesburg on 15 June 2026. The discussion between the two leaders focused on pressing national issues, particularly the challenges posed by undocumented and illegal immigration. The engagement culminated in an agreement to collaborate on advocacy and campaigns addressing immigration policy, border management, and related societal impacts.
This comparison underscores Shivambu’s evolving political outlook following his departure from the EFF in 2024 and his subsequent roles, including a period with the uMkhonto weSizwe Party. It suggests a contrast in organisational culture, strategic depth, or practical engagement between his previous high-level position in the EFF and interactions with emerging civic and political voices outside traditional party structures.
Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma has built a public profile through the March and March initiative, which emphasises community mobilisation and policy advocacy on migration and related matters. The meeting represents an alignment of interests between Shivambu’s Afrika Mayibuye Movement and Ngobese-Zuma’s platform, aimed at contributing constructively to national debates on immigration control and enforcement.
In South Africa’s multiparty environment, such cross-movement collaborations are increasingly common as actors seek broader coalitions to address complex policy challenges. Immigration has become a focal point in public discourse, influencing voter priorities ahead of the November 2026 local government elections. Effective management of migration touches on economic opportunities, social cohesion, service delivery, and national security areas where practical insights from diverse stakeholders can inform more robust policy responses.
Shivambu’s comment also illustrates the value of continuous learning and openness to new perspectives in political leadership. Ten years in a deputy presidential role within a prominent party involves substantial responsibility in policy formulation, parliamentary oversight, and organisational management. Describing greater learning from one external meeting points to the potential benefi