MK Party Distances Itself From Floyd Shivambu’s Upcoming Media Briefing, Says Event Is Unsanctioned.

• The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has not sanctioned Floyd Shivambu's upcoming media briefing
• The former Secretary-General announced that he would host a media briefing to address recent developments
• MK Party spokesperson, Nhlamulo Ndhlela, said the upcoming event was a violation of internal protocol

Briefly News journalist Byron Pillay has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He spent 10 years working for the Northern Natal Courier before transitioning to online journalism.

GAUTENG - Floyd Shivambu's upcoming media briefing has not been sanctioned by the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party.

That's according to the party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela, who addressed the event called for by Shivambu.

The former Secretary-General of the MK Party announced that he would be hosting a media briefing on Thursday, 19 June, to address recent developments in the country.

Ndhlela says party never approved press briefing

Despite Shivambu using the party's colours and branding to announce the briefing, the party itself has not approved it, according to Ndhlela.

“The party did not sanction this briefing; we are not part of it,” he said.

He added that while Shivambu remained a member of the party, his decision to call for a media briefing without official approval was a violation of internal protocol.

“What we can confirm is that this press briefing is not sanctioned by the party. And that’s important — because when members call a press briefing, it must be approved by the party leadership,” he added.

This is not the first time Shivambu has been in trouble for doing things with party approval. In April 2025, he visited fugitive pastor Shepherd Bushiri in Malawi, without the party's approval. The decision drew criticism from many, as Bushiri continues to fight extradition back to South Africa.

MK Party President, Jacob Zuma, then removed Shivambu from the SG post and named him a Member of Parliament as a result. Shivambu previously stated that he would not apologise for attending the church service in Malawi.

What you need to know about Floyd Shivambu in the MK Party

• Shivambu joined the MK Party after he resigned from the Economic Freedom Fighters in August 2024.
• He was appointed to the National High Command as the National Convenor shortly after he joined the party.
• More than one month later, he was appointed the party's secretary-general, being the seventh secretary-general since the party was formed in 2023.
• Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla was forced to apologise after she tweeted insults directed at Shivambu.
• Members of the MK Party in Mpumalanga welcomed his removal and accused him of sidelining members aligned to Mary Phadi.

Shivambu to hold press briefing

Briefly News reported that former Secretary-General, Floyd Shivambu, is holding a press conference on 19 June 2025.

The former Economic Freedom Fighters member stated that the briefing was to address recent developments in the country.

South Africans speculated that he could be preparing to resign from the party after a turbulent political career in the MK Party.

Source: Briefly News