Leader of the Afrika Mayibuye Movement, Floyd Shivambu, has not allowed the recent mass resignations of some of the prominent party leaders to deter him from forging ahead with the movement’s upcoming national convention this weekend.
This comes as the party has unveiled significant changes to its top leadership structure, just days before the convention.
The announcement was made during a press briefing held at the University of Johannesburg Campus on Wednesday, where Shivambu emphasised the need for a thorough review of the movement’s leadership in light of several recent high-profile resignations.
Shivambu said the movement had conducted a review of its leadership and concluded that significant changes were necessary to take it forward in its efforts to bring about the total liberation of the African people.
The former EFF and MKP leader indicated that despite multiple resignations, the movement will continue in its mandate and reaffirmed the party’s commitment to clean governance, adding that the party will use its founding document as a guiding principle.
“We convene this presser in Soweto, Johannesburg, a cradle of resistance in pursuit of freedom. We are here to reaffirm our commitment to the total emancipation of the African people. At the outset, we reaffirm our new leadership structure that will guide our movement through struggles and challenges,” he said.
Shivambu said he is confident in the capabilities of the reconfigured leadership as the party forges ahead with the realisation of its objectives, saying all the new leaders embody the spirit and the guiding principles of the party.
Among those who have been mandated to lead the movement are Thato Ralokgokgodi as 1st deputy president, Nomusa Sibisi-kama-Shobane as 2nd DP, Sphephile Cyprian Mhlaba as 3rd DP. Lazola Ndamase was unveiled as the movement’s Secretary General, while the 1st deputy SG was announced as Mzwandile Goge, Nosipho Makamba as the 2nd Deputy SG, and the party announced Mmabatho Mokaouse as the chairperson.
The reconfiguration follows hot on the heels of an exodus of former first deputy president Robert Nwedo and two Deputy Secretaries who resigned from the party recently, with Shivambu having recently accused some of those who have left of having failed in executing their duties.
He said some of the recent departures were part of a plot to create instability within the movement as it gears forward to hold its first national convention.
“Some of these people opportunistically resigned to create a public perception that the organisation is in a crisis and people are jumping off when we are removing them. The resignations of the officials are because of incompetent people who were unable to do organisational work,” he added.
Last week, Nwedo in his resignation letter said part of his reason for stepping down was to focus on his trade union, the Maanda Ashu Workers Union of South Africa (MAWUSA).
“I would like to appreciate and thank the learning and experience gained through my involvement in building Mayibuye. My focus is building an organisation that is loyal to the workers and poor citizens in general under the MAWUSA banner. I wish Mayibuye the best and wish the movement can be steered in the right direction for true total liberation and emancipation of the people,” he wrote.
