Former Afrika Mayibuye deputy president sets his focus on union MAWUSA

Former Afrika Mayibuye deputy president Robert Nwedo, who recently left the movement, says he is now dedicating his time to Maanda Ashu Workers Union of South Africa (MAWUSA), a union representing temporary workers.

Nwedo, along with several senior leaders, left Floyd Shivambu’s Mayibuye, prompting a complete overhaul of the leadership structure at the newly formed political party.

Nwedo held a media briefing in Houghton on Monday, where he announced that his sole focus will now be on Mawusa.

MAWUSA largely represents people in temporary employment, such as those in EPWP and CWP programmes.

Nwedo said his work at Mayibuye led him to neglect the union

"There was a circular 14 2025/26 from the Department of Cooperative Governance (COGTA) which was very brutal and gives workers no single rights as if they are already in the cemetery. Due to my commitment as deputy president of Mayibuye, that circular was issued in September, and I saw it in November. clearly, there was a vacuum between the workers and me," he said.

- ENOUGH IS ENOUGH -

MAWUSA has now declared itself politically independent.

Since the dawn of democracy, trade unions have aligned themselves with political parties, leveraging their worker base to garner influence.

MAWUSA has also done the same, creating relationships with the ANC, the Umkhonto Wesizwe Party and more recently the Afrika Mayibuye Movement.

However, Nwedo said this ends today.

"We sought partnership to influence policy and fight for the rights of the marginalised, but we have learned a bitter truth. The plight of poor and vulnerable workers is not a genuine priority for any of these politicians. Workers are a mere stepping stone and vote-catching rhetoric on the road to personal power and access to the public purse. Enough is enough."

While its membership numbers are unknown, MAWUSA largely represents workers in temporary employment programmes like EPWP and CWP.