Shivambu’s Response To Question About Zuma’s Death Sparks Debate Online

A question about what would happen to the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party if former South African president Jacob Zuma died prompted a firm response from Afrika Mayibuye Movement leader Floyd Shivambu during a recent interview.

The exchange, which has since attracted attention on social media, began when a journalist asked Shivambu whether he believed the MK Party could survive without Zuma. Rather than speculate about the former president’s death or the party’s future under such circumstances, Shivambu made it clear that he was uncomfortable with the question.

“I don’t discuss politics like that. I don’t ever think about politics and imagining people dying and all of those things. I don’t even respond to such questions,” he said.

He nevertheless offered a brief assessment of the MK Party, stating that the organisation “had potential to achieve more, but it did not.”

The interviewer subsequently accepted his response and moved on, bringing the brief but tense exchange to an end.

The video was shared on X by Inqubeko Media on Friday, November 13, 2026, and quickly generated reactions from viewers who focused on how Shivambu handled the question.

Several social media users praised his composure, describing his response as mature and respectful. One user, @KamogeloMa92354, wrote: “That is a mature and humane response.”

Another commenter, @lungsta_mk, criticised the journalist’s approach, saying Shivambu had given a measured and polite response to what the user considered an inappropriate question.

@derickmathivha also praised the politician, suggesting that he had avoided being drawn into an exchange that could create division between Afrika Mayibuye and the MK Party. Other users, including @LLunga18 and @Ramudzulikhuthi, similarly expressed approval of his handling of the interview.

Shivambu’s history with the MK Party makes the question particularly notable. He joined the organisation in 2024 after leaving the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and later became its secretary-general on November 10, 2024. However, his relationship with the party’s leadership deteriorated, leading to his removal from the position in June 2025 and the termination of his membership the following month.

He subsequently established the Afrika Mayibuye Movement, which he launched on September 5, 2025. The organisation contested South Africa’s 2026 local government elections, marking its first participation in an electoral contest.

The latest interview has therefore brought renewed attention to Shivambu’s past association with Zuma’s political movement, even as he leads a separate political organisation.

Source: https://x.com/brieflyza/status/2121255683651715515?s=46

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