Shivambu’s Bushiri visit not an ‘act of neutral faith’

The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party secretary-general, Floyd Shivambu’s visit to self-proclaimed prophet Shepherd Bushiri has damaged his reputation and that of MK, according to reputation management expert Tshepo Matseba yesterday.

Shivambu has been criticised after he visited the Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG) Church led by Bushiri in Malawi.

Bushiri is a fugitive wanted by South African law enforcement agencies, which are currently trying to have him extradited to face the criminal charges that he allegedly committed when he was operating in this country.

In November 2020, he was arrested on charges including fraud and rape. After he was granted bail he sneaked out of the country.

‘Reputationally reckless’

“In an age where every move by a political leader is documented, scrutinised and dissected, the distinction between public and private life is increasingly blurred, especially for someone in Shivambu’s position.

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“His Easter weekend visit to Bushiri was not just personal, as he and others have implied. It was symbolic, political and reputationally reckless,” said Matseba.

‘Not a neutral act of faith’

“This was not a neutral act of faith; it was a public endorsement of a deeply controversial figure currently wanted by South African authorities for serious financial crimes.

“That Shivambu followed the visit with praise on social media only deepened the backlash. As someone who advises leaders on reputation management, I’ve learned that the greatest threat to leadership today is not always ideological failure – it’s the erosion of consistency.”

Matseba said leaders cannot choose a different set of values for different moments. He said if integrity was a core belief, it must travel with them into every space – parliament, into boardrooms and church.

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“By publicly embracing him, Shivambu has legitimised a man who continues to undermine the justice system.

Political message

“And because he is a senior political figure, that endorsement doesn’t stay in the personal domain. It becomes a political message. It suggests that charisma and influence can outweigh integrity and legality.”

Matseba said the only thing Shivambu could do to clear his name was to issue a public statement distancing himself from Bushiri’s legal troubles and reaffirm his commitment to justice and ethical governance.

“He must begin to rebuild trust by demonstrating that his decisions, both public and private, will reflect the integrity he so often speaks of.”

It is still not clear if MK party will take action against Shivambu. Soon after the news surfaced, the party released a statement distancing itself from the visit.

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