Right, Let's focus our attention now on a press briefing given by Floyd's Shibambu. I don't know how we describe him, but he is involved in an initiative, the Mayibuya initiative, if I'm not mistaken, and this is his going out into the country to consult with people and reach a decision about whether they ought to form a political party. He used the occasion to introduce those people who'll be working with him, and there was plenty of discussion about
some of those names as well. Tabby saw Gorba was watching everything and joins us now on seven oh two Drive. Tubby saw, first of all, what do you make of this? I mean, did you have a sense that something substantial, some game changing thing is happening in South African politics or is it too early to say?
I don't think it's little to say, John. I mean we've been here John before. We've been here with Dakhan, We've been here with actual Essay, We've been here with raizin Zanzi. They starts off as sort of these little thing tanks and then eventually, obviously close to election, they become political parties. And I think that's what we've seen
here with flour Shabambo's concept my boy consultation panel process. Sorry, I mean, and it was interesting that aside from him, the other speakers, we're basically introducing this as a political party, sort of like a bit of fruit and slips where people are saying it's a party and then have to create themselves. Oh a process. So it does seem like, you know, maybe Flourisha Bamba has not made up his mind yet, but the people around him have made up
their mind. And I think what history tells us is that eventually this will become a political party.
Talk to us about the inclusion in this consultation panel of Pastor Stephen Sondo. First of all, background on him, because not everybody will necessarily recognize the name but controversial and Floyd Shubamboo obviously responded to the questions in that.
Regard controversial controversial person and so Pastor Bishops Bishop Stevens Zondo. He came from the ANC, he was at the MK party and now he's at Floyd Shivambu's consultation process. But the think the most interesting thing about him is that as we speak, he currently has an ongoing painting case at the Praetora high courts where he's accused of multiple charges of sexual assaults and also raping women from his
own congregation. Now, Flour Shivamba was asked about this, and I quote this, John, he said, Pasta Bishop Zondo has not been convicted of anything. And I think it's interesting, John, that last month Floyd Shivambo went to my lobbie to visit Pasta Shepperd Buscheri. And we do know that Pasta Shepperd Buscherier was also charged with rape among other among other crimes that he was charged with before he fled
to my lobby. So it does seem that for Flour Shavambo, he said, you know, he hasn't been convicted of anything, so it's fine, but it does seem that he keeps on associating with himself with these very very controversial characters.
And just finally and briefly, Toby saw if you can, I mean there's a kind of a thread here because if you look at the MK party at the time of its launch bringing in religious figures, and it would seem, I would imagine hoping that they will bring some of their fold, their flock, their following. Call it what you will as voters. I recall a real fallout with some of those pastors religious figures who felt the MK Party had not kept promises that they believe had been made.
Is this a fertile area for gathering votes in South Africa? I mean, do you think they're assuming, perhaps correctly or incorrectly, that people who have a particular really just association on automatically going to translate that into a political loyalty because quite a few people seem to think that's the case.
Well, I think we can even start with Pastor Steven Zondo. Even with the cases surrounding him, he still has a lot of support when in his church he has a very large congregation, So there is that sense that you know, associating himself with very popular people might result in some votes. But also I think Flosha Vembers also associated himself with the trade union mailsa ma Wisa is responsible for the EPW workers and there's over around two hundred thousand in South Africa. So if he can sort of.
But not necessarily members not that union.
He is not necessarily members are not necessarily voters. But the idea obviously is to try and get those people and then consolidates and turn those into real votes,