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Nyiko Floyd Shivambu (born 1 January 1983) is a South African politician who served as a member of parliament for the Economic Freedom Fighters until 15 August 2024, when he joined Jacob Zuma's uMkhonto weSizwe.

He was the Deputy President and lieutenant commander-in-chief of the Economic Freedom Fighters, its Parliamentary Chief Whip in the South African Parliament, and served in the Trade and Industry Portfolio Committee and the Standing Committee on Finance. Shivambu was also a Member of the Pan African Parliament, serving in the Rural Economy, Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment Committee.

Early life and education

Shivambu was born in the rural village of Mahonisi, Malamulele town in the Limpopo province South Africa. He was one of seven children. He grew up in a house without running water nor electricity. His parents earned a living as informal traders selling hand-made duvets and pillowcases in nearby towns. Shivambu graduated from the Mphambo High School in Malamulele in 2001.

Shivambu went on to study at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg with the intention of becoming a technician. He changed academic focus and instead earned a bachelor's degree as well as an honours degree in Political Studies and International Relations. Shivambu graduated with a master's degree, with distinction, in political studies in 2014. In his third year at the University of the Witwatersrand, Shivambu was elected president of the university's Student Representative Body and joined the African National Congress Youth League.

On 6 February 2018, he announced that he has been accepted by the Wits School of Governance to pursue a doctoral degree with his thesis focused on SA's transformation policies, legislation and practices: ownership and control of JSE-listed companies.

Political career

• Member of Umkhonto Wesizwe Party (2024)-Secretary General of uMkhonto weSizwe.
• Member of Parliament for the EFF (2014–2024)
• Member of the Pan-African Parliament (2014-2018)
• Spokesperson of African National Congress Youth League (2008–2012)
• Board Member of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (2008–2012)
• Students Representative of Joint Initiative for Priority Skills Acquisition (2006–2007)
• Student Representative Council president at University of Witwatersrand (2004–2005)
• National Executive of South African Students Congress

Shivambu was the Deputy President in the Economic Freedom Fighters (2013–2024) and responsible for Policy, Research, and International Relations.

Since their days in the African National Congress Youth League, Shivambu and Julius Malema have appeared as close political allies. Following both their suspension from the African National Congress, Floyd Shivambu co-founded the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), alongside Julius Malema.

In 2014, he co-edited a book about Julius Malema, entitled The Coming Revolution: Julius Malema and the Fight for Economic Freedom. Following the 2024 South African general election, Malema stated that the formation of a coalition between the EFF and ANC would be contingent on Shivambu being appointed Minister of Finance. On 18 August 2024 Julius Malema announced Sinawo Tambo as Floyd's replacement in parliament.

Controversies

In 2011, Shivambu was ousted from his position as ANC Youth League spokesman by an ANC disciplinary hearing, after he swore at a journalist, and after making comments about helping to bring about regime change in Botswana.

On 17 August 2018, Shivambu was arrested for speeding. He was caught driving at 182 km/h in 120 km/h zone, and subsequently released on bail.

Assault of journalist

On 20 March 2018, Shivambu was filmed attacking a journalist outside Parliament and was scheduled to stand trial for assault in February 2021. This hearing was subsequently postponed until September 2021.

Paternity scandal

In 2015, Shivambu was involved in a heavily publicised paternity scandal. After initially denying that he had fathered a child with his former girlfriend, Andile Masuku, he later acknowledged the child was his son following a paternity test. In November 2015, he claimed he could not afford the R5000 monthly maintenance.

Racial prejudice

Shivambu was criticised for demanding to know why treasury official Ismail Momoniat, who is of South African Indian ancestry, was presenting so often to parliament instead of a black National Treasury official, stating that Momoniat's presence "undermines African leadership". This led to widespread condemnation of Shivambu by other politicians and on social media for both questing Momoniat's role in the anti-apartheid movement and for being racially prejudiced.

Four months later, the Daily Maverick stated that a likely reason for Shivambu's statements about Momoniat was because he was part of a group of treasury officials investigating the collapse of VBS Mutual Bank which allegedly involved Shivambu and his brother Brian Shivambu.

VBS Bank

A report published by the South African Reserve Bank in October 2018 indicated that Shivambu's brother, Brian Shivambu, was the recipient of R16,148,569 (US$1.09 million) in irregular payments from the now collapsed bank VBS Mutual Bank. Further investigative reporting by Pauli Van Wyk with considerable substantiating evidence alleged that R1.3 million of this money was then paid to the EFF and R10 million given to Floyd Shivambu himself. Shivambu has since asked that anyone who has evidence he had dealings with VBS must come forward.

During this period the Mail & Guardian newspaper published an article based on WhatsApp texts leaked by a whistleblower alleging that Shivambu's brother's company was a conduit for Shivambu to receive illicit payments.

Ongoing forensic financial investigations indicate that at least R1.84-million illicitly flowed from VBS Mutual Bank, via two front companies, into Shivambu’s personal bank account. The South African Parliament’s joint ethics committee found that Shivambu had received at least R180,000, in three payments, of VBS money from his brother's (Brian) company Sgameka Projects Pty Ltd in 2017.

References

1. "Shivambu appointed mk party Secretary General".
2. Masuabi, Queenin (15 August 2024). "Shivambu quits EFF for MK, Malema likens 'pain' to mother's death". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
3. Nyiko Floyd Shivambu :: People's Assembly
4. | WATCH: Ndlozi, Shivambu kicked out of Parliament | Archived 25 August 2018 at the Wayback Machine eNCA
5. ^ "TRAINSPOTTER: EFF's Floyd Shivambu – the man behind the Man behind the Man | Daily Maverick". dailymaverick.co.za. 24 July 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
6. "Nyiko Floyd Shivambu | Who's Who SA". whoswho.co.za. Archived from the original on 13 September 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
7. "Floyd Shivambu hits the books at Wits University". Retrieved 8 September 2017.
8. "Launch of The Coming Revolution Edited by Floyd Shivambu and Janet Smith at Wits University". Jacana @ Sunday Times Books LIVE. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
9. LIVE, The Sowetan. "There's no rule that says we must call Buti Honourable - Shivambu". Sowetan LIVE. Archived from the original on 10 October 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
10. "Floyd Shivambu now a master". Times Live. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
11. "Floyd Shivambu accepted to pursue doctoral studies at Wits". The Citizen. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
12. "Floyd Shivambu on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
13. "Mr Nyiko Floyd Shivambu". People's Assembly. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
14. Smit, Sarah (7 May 2018). "Malema takes his spot in the Pan-African Parliament". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
15. "Provincial Command Teams - EFF Leadership". Economic Freedom Fighters. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
16. "The Coming Revolution: Julius Malema and the Fight for Economic Freedom". Jacana Media. June 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
17. Maliti, Soyiso (5 April 2024). "'Make Floyd Shivambu the finance minister': Malema states demand for coalition with ANC". News24. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
18. "Shivambu out of a job".
19. "ANC: Shivambu also charged".
20. "EFF heavyweight caught speeding in FS". Retrieved 20 August 2018.
21. "EFF's Shivambu regrets attack on journalist". Retrieved 20 March 2018.
22. "Floyd Shivambu to stand trial for assault after failing to convince NPA". Retrieved 29 October 2020.
23. Evans, Jenni (3 June 2021). "Floyd Shivambu's assault trial postponed for more than 3 months". News24. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
24. "The boy is mine - Shivambu". News24. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
25. Makhoba, Ntombizodwa; Saba, Athandiwe (15 November 2015). "Floyd Shivambu can't afford R5 000 maintenance". City Press. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
26. ^ Khumalo, Junior (7 June 2018). "Shivambu's attack on Treasury's deputy director-general 'driven by ignorance'". CityPress. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
27. Davis, Rebecca. "SHIVAMBU – MOMONIAT CONTRETEMPS: 'His contribution is second to none': Former comrades defend Treasury's Momoniat after EFF slurs". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
28. Wyk, Marianne Thamm and Pauli Van. "Analysis: Old scores, new threats – what is really behind the EFF's anti-Indian rhetoric". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
29. Wyk, Marianne Thamm and Pauli Van. "Analysis: Old scores, new threats – what is really behind the EFF's anti-Indian rhetoric". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
30. ^ Van Wyk, Pauli (11 October 2018). "The Shivambu Brothers and the Great VBS Heist". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
31. Motau, Terry (10 October 2018). "The Great Bank Heist: Investigator's Report to the Prudential Authority" (PDF). South African Reserve Bank. p. 135. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
32. "Floyd Shivambu's brother received R16m from VBS". Retrieved 10 October 2018.
33. Evans, Jenni (13 October 2018). "Floyd Shivambu denies getting R10m from VBS". News24. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
34. Skiti, Sabelo; Jika, Thanduxolo (12 October 2018). "PIC, VBS, Floyd and his baby brother". The M&G Online. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
35. van Wyk, Pauli (15 August 2021). "VBS scandal: SARS demands R28.2m from Brian Shivambu, displays clear connection to Floyd". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
36. Maliti, Jason Felix and Soyiso. "Parliament closes Malema's VBS Bank file due to lack of evidence". News24. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
37. Merten, Marianne (2 October 2023). "Ethics committee raps Floyd Shivambu on knuckles over VBS payments". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 4 October 2023.

• 1982 births
• Economic Freedom Fighters politicians
• Living people
• Politicians from Limpopo
• Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 2019–2024
• Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 2014–2019
• Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 2024–2029
• UMkhonto we Sizwe politicians