Ndou: Shivambu’s exit won’t shake MKP

However, he believes Shivambu’s departure may not significantly derail the party, unless it triggers deeper dissent within its structures.

Shivambu, who was recently removed as MKP secretary-general, is set to address the media on Thursday on “the country’s current political trajectory”.

However, the MKP has made it clear the briefing is not sanctioned by the party—raising strong speculation of his exit.

"It could be an indication that Shivambu and the MK party are done. He is not going to be addressing the press as sanctioned by the MK party. He is going to do that as an individual and that says a lot," said Ndou.

"It means that he's doing that as an individual outside the MKP, and whether we like it or not, whatever he has to say has a lot to do with the MKP. Shivambu is an aggrieved person."

Ndou notes Shivambu’s role in building MKP structures and crafting its constitution, adding that his abrupt removal—followed by a failed parliamentary deployment—has likely left him disillusioned.

READ: Shivambu booted as MKP SG over Bushiri visit

"When you talk about the MKP having structures and having a constitution, that should be credited to Floyd Shivambu. When he would suddenly get demoted to be promised to be deployed in Parliament, which did not happen, one would expect him to be an aggrieved person," said Ndou.

-A Future Beyond the MKP-

Despite the current tensions, Ndou believes Shivambu remains politically versatile and could continue to exert influence outside formal party politics.

"He has a lot of options at his disposal, He can join other political parties that would accept him. He can still continue as an active citizen and participate in political activities outside any political party. He can go and work with workers’ unions… He can also avail his services to different political parties and do what he did with the EFF and the MK Party."

ALSO READ: Shivambu got what he deserved, says Malema on demotion

-Will his exit shake MKP?-

Ndou argues that the impact of Shivambu’s departure on MKP’s momentum will depend on how deeply supporters identify with him.

"It will depend on why people joined the MKP and how they valued him," he said. "There are political parties that have many members and supporters but do not care about the principles or objectives of the party. That is what you need in a political party for direction and stability."

He adds that Shivambu’s removal may have been a test of his relevance within party structures.

"They realized that there was silence within the structures, now they feel that after removing him as SG and nothing serious happened, it could be the right time for him also to move."

-MKP Built on Factional Support and Deployments-

Ndou also reflects on MKP’s roots and internal governance. He says many joined the party not out of ideological alignment, but due to disillusionment with the ANC.

"When people decided to join the MK party… some are disgruntled where they come from. Some, and these are in the majority, are people who are supportive of a faction in the ANC," said Ndou.

He noted that MKP’s internal coherence is often linked to political deployment.

"Some people are deployed and in their positions, they have nothing to worry about—mostly because they got exactly what they wanted."

-Centralised Leadership: A strength or risk?-

Ndou believes the MKP's centralized leadership under Jacob Zuma—while criticized externally—remains effective for its current base.

"The MKP is still in existence. As we speak, decisions are centralised and they still get support from the general members, but for now, it appears to be working for them and that is why they continue doing it that way."

He warned, however, that this approach may come under pressure as the party matures and approaches future electoral contests.

"The reality of the matter is that those who are outside the MKP, who want the MKP to do things differently, might criticize them… But if it's working for the MKP, they'll continue doing it because they don’t see any harm in their arrangement."

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