Swana urges Shivambu to focus on solutions for South Africa's political challenges

SANDILE Swana, the principal consultant at the Centre for Strategic Leadership, has implored former Umkhonto WeSizwe (MKP) Secretary General Floyd Shivambu to shift his focus from critiquing other political parties towards generating viable solutions to fix South Africa's pressing issues.

Swana's remarks came in the wake of Shivambu's controversial comments made during his "Mayibuye" consultative process in Mpumalanga over the weekend.

He said, “Floyd (Shivambu) must table a credible political proposal and programme to the nation.

"This is not the time to discuss at length about the MKP or other parties. Uphethe ntoni esandleni Floyd? (What are you bringing to the table?)”

His statement was a stark reminder of the need for political figures to present constructive initiatives rather than engage in political squabbling.

Shivambu, who recently characterised the MK Party as a "family stokvel," has been at the centre of controversy, following his stark critique of the organisation during the Mayibuye consultation session.

Addressing a crowd of supporters, Shivambu said, “The truth of the matter at which we do not tell the people of South Africa, it will be treasonous; it will be a betrayal of the trust of the people.”

He went on to define Umkhonto WeSizwe as "not an honest organisation," implicating its evolution into a vehicle primarily for the personal gain of former President Jacob Zuma and his family.

Shivambu's comments reflect his discontent with the party's direction, and while he initially attempted to raise issue with the leadership during his tenure, he found himself ousted from the position of Secretary General amid allegations that he plotted against Zuma.

Despite refusing to resign, he has initiated a nationwide consultation (Mayibuye) process aimed at assessing whether a new political party should be formed, advocating the notion that political movements must serve collective interests rather than tribal or family agendas.

“We must gather grassroots proposals for a new, inclusive organisation,” he emphasised.

The Mayibuye forums, were conceived by Shivambu himself and attended by former members of both the Economic Freedom Fighters and the MK Party, were crucial in this unfolding narrative.

The consultations spanned multiple provinces, with Shivambu keen on ensuring that any new structure was a product of genuine, nationwide engagement rather than mere speculation.

Despite his reservations about MKP, it is noteworthy that Shivambu remained a member of the party, which has yet to take further actions against him, aside from stripping him of his leadership roles.

His journey compels the pressing question: Will Shivambu be able to transition from critique to solution, harnessing the voices of disenfranchised citizens to forge a new political frontier?

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema said he was not going to say anything in response to the jabs that his former deputy President Shivambu was throwing at him.

Malema continued to say that his former right-hand man never dared to say anything in his face, hence he would never warrant all what he’s saying in public with a response.

“He never dared to say that thing to me, here, [to] my face, he had access to me in private, in public, so why would I entertain such a coward?”

“He never dared to say those things he is saying about me. if he’s that strong and political. He never took chances to remove me from within the party, then you want to remove me from outside?” Malema asked.

DAILY NEWS