Floyd Shivambu’s newly formed Afrika Mayibuye Movement has officially announced popular media personality, businessman, and community activist Themba Lukhele Nzimande, widely known as “Skeem GP”, as its mayoral candidate for the City of Ekurhuleni ahead of the upcoming local government elections.
The high-stakes announcement was made by party president Floyd Shivambu during a political gathering in Kliptown, Soweto, coinciding with the celebration of the political movement’s first anniversary. Nzimande, who currently serves as the party’s Head of National Mobilisation, will lead the organization’s campaign in one of Gauteng’s most critical metropolitan municipalities.
The Afrika Mayibuye Movement utilized its anniversary rally to unveil its regional leadership strategies across Gauteng. Alongside Nzimande’s deployment in Ekurhuleni, Shivambu introduced a roster of candidates for neighboring districts, including retired Major General Prince Nkitsing Mokotedi for the City of Tshwane and Bishop Vincent Jones for the Emfuleni Local Municipality.
The move signals the party’s intent to forcefully challenge established regional political structures and tap into regional coalition dynamics that have left municipalities vulnerable to frequent leadership shakeups.
Nzimande’s candidacy instantly ignited national debate due to his unconventional path to public service. Born on the East Rand, Nzimande has lived a highly public secondary life, openly discussing a troubled youth that culminated in legal battles, criminal activity, and a conviction for cash-in-transit robberies.
Following his rehabilitation and release from prison, Nzimande successfully reinvented his public image as an author, motivational speaker, entrepreneur, and podcaster. He has positioned his run for office as a story of redemption, arguing that his lived experiences give him a unique understanding of community struggles and social reform.
The announcement has sharply divided residents and political analysts alike. Supporters view Nzimande as an inspirational figure of rehabilitation who deserves a secondary chance to clean up local governance.
Conversely, critics have voiced strong concerns on social platforms, questioning whether a former convict possesses the credentials required to manage the massive multi-billion rand budget of a critical industrial economic hub like Ekurhuleni.
With the municipal elections rapidly approaching, the voters of Ekurhuleni will ultimately decide if Nzimande’s message of a “New Dawn” resonates louder than the controversies of his past.