Floyd Shivambu is breathing new life into South Africa’s political landscape with bold steps to energise his movement, Mayibuye iAfrika. In a strategic push to expand grassroots reach and deepen its impact, Shivambu has announced the launch of both a Youth League and a Women’s League — structures he believes will be the heartbeat of the organisation’s political engine.
Mass mobilisation meetings are already scheduled for 19 July, where young people and women will gather to shape the mandate, define the roles, and elect leadership for these new arms of the movement. The emphasis? Power must start from the ground up — and it must reflect the voices and ambitions of the people most often sidelined: youth and women.
Shivambu is clear — this is not just symbolic. The leagues are intended to drive Mayibuye’s activism, provide political energy, and chart a course that places generational leadership at the forefront. “Young people must not just be part of the movement — they must lead it,” he said. Similarly, the appointment of Nontlanhla Dlamini as convener of the Women’s League marks a strong first step toward establishing women as central decision-makers in the organisation.
With South Africa’s political landscape shifting and voter expectations evolving, Shivambu’s focus on empowering new voices may just be what sets Mayibuye iAfrika apart — or catapults it into the national spotlight. Whether it becomes a defining force or another fleeting experiment will depend on how these new leagues rise to the moment. But one thing is certain: the call to action has been sounded — and it’s coming from the youth and women ready to take the lead.
