Floyd Shivambu’s Afrika Mayibuye Movement has vowed to turn its electoral breakthrough in Limpopo into tangible improvements in people’s lives, promising to prioritise job creation, reliable water supply and better service delivery after making significant inroads into two municipalities traditionally dominated by the African National Congress (ANC).
The party’s spokesperson, Sydney Baloyi, says Mayibuye will not take the confidence shown by voters in Greater Giyani and Collins Chabane Municipalities for granted, insisting that the movement is determined to translate its campaign promises into practical interventions in municipal councils.
Mayibuye’s performance in the 4 November 2026 Local Government Elections has emerged as one of the notable developments in Limpopo, with the movement establishing itself as a significant political force in the two municipalities.
The breakthrough is particularly significant given that this was the party’s first participation in local government elections. It has attracted considerable support in communities where unemployment, persistent water shortages and concerns about municipal service delivery have featured prominently in residents’ grievances.
According to the latest provisional results reported on Friday morning, Mayibuye was polling at approximately 18% in Greater Giyani and 14% in Collins Chabane, making it the second-largest party in both municipalities behind the ANC, which won all 31 wards in the Giyani area.
The ANC remained in the lead in both councils, with approximately 59% in Greater Giyani and 65% in Collins Chabane.
The results have placed Mayibuye ahead of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), which was polling at around 5% in both municipalities, according to the provisional figures reported by the IEC.
The party’s performance is also a setback for the ANC’s political dominance in parts of the Mopani District, where voters have increasingly raised concerns about access to basic services and municipal accountability.
Baloyi said the party, founded by Shivambu, the former EFF deputy president, viewed the results not only as an endorsement of its policies but also as an indication that residents were looking for an alternative to the existing political leadership.
“Our reaction is obviously one of gratitude. When people trust you with their vote, they are trusting you. It’s also a vote of no confidence in the incumbent rulers.
“It’s showing that they were looking for an alternative, and we are that alternative they are prepared to give a chance to,” he said.
He said the support received in Collins Chabane, which falls under the Vhembe District Municipality, and Greater Giyani, under Mopani District, was particularly significant because it demonstrated that residents believed Mayibuye was led by people who understood their challenges and were prepared to represent their interests.
Baloyi pledged that the party would not betray that confidence, adding that its representatives would use their positions in municipal councils to introduce motions and proposals aimed at improving the living conditions of residents.
He stressed that the movement’s electoral commitments were centred on three key priorities: employment opportunities, access to water and improved service delivery.
“Our electoral promise throughout the campaign was jobs, water and service delivery, which is very self-explanatory.
“In itself, it means that even before getting their vote, we had already made up our minds that water is at the centre of the services we want to deliver to those communities,” Baloyi said.
The emphasis on water comes as communities in parts of Limpopo continue to grapple with water shortages, unreliable supply and concerns about the ability of municipalities to provide essential services.
The movement will now face the challenge of turning its electoral support into meaningful political influence, particularly through council debates, motions, oversight and engagement with municipal administrations.
Papa Penny’s role in Mayibuye’s electoral campaign
A notable feature of Mayibuye’s campaign in the two municipalities was the involvement of former ANC councillor Eric “Papa Penny” Nkobane, who helped lead the movement’s campaign in the Giyani and Malamulele areas.
The former MKP MP’s involvement added political weight to Mayibuye’s campaign in communities familiar with his political background and public profile.
The results also represent an important early test for Mayibuye and its leadership under Shivambu, who established the movement after leaving the EFF and briefly joining the uMkhonto weSizwe Party.
The party’s ability to emerge as the second-largest political force in both municipalities, despite competing against established political organisations, appears to give it an opportunity to build a stronger presence in Limpopo’s local government politics.
Baloyi acknowledged that counting was continuing in several municipalities, including Greater Giyani, and said the party was awaiting the final tallies.
He urged residents who had voted for Mayibuye to remain confident that the movement would honour its commitments.
“In conclusion, I just want to thank the residents of the respective municipalities where most of our votes have come from.
“I want to assure them that we are not going to drop the ball. We are going to make sure that our electoral promise of jobs, water and service delivery now becomes a reality,” he said.
