15 Facts About Floyd Shivambu

Nyiko Floyd Shivambu was born on 1 January 1983 and 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.

Floyd Shivambu 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.

Floyd Shivambu was born in the rural village of Mahonisi, Malamulele town in the Limpopo province South Africa.

Floyd Shivambu grew up in a house without running water nor electricity.

Floyd Shivambu's parents earned a living as informal traders selling hand-made duvets and pillowcases in nearby towns.

Floyd Shivambu graduated from the Mphambo High School in Malamulele in 2001.

Floyd Shivambu changed academic focus and instead earned a bachelor's degree as well as an honours degree in Political Studies and International Relations.

Floyd Shivambu graduated with a master's degree, with distinction, in political studies in 2014.

Floyd Shivambu then became a Students Representative for the Joint Initiative for Priority Skills Acquisition from 2006 to 2007 and was a National Executive member of the South African Students Congress.

In 2011, Floyd 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 20 March 2018, Floyd Shivambu was filmed attacking a journalist outside Parliament and was scheduled to stand trial for assault in February 2021.

In 2015, Floyd Shivambu was involved in a heavily publicised paternity scandal.

Floyd 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".

Floyd Shivambu has since asked that anyone who has evidence he had dealings with VBS must come forward.

The South African Parliament's joint ethics committee found that Floyd Shivambu had received at least R180,000, in three payments, of VBS money from his brother's company Sgameka Projects Pty Ltd in 2017.