The EFF is in turmoil, with leader Julius Malema lashing out at his former deputy and co-founder, Floyd Shivambu, after his departure to the uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) Party.
Malema, visibly emotional during a gathering of EFF ground forces in Orlando, Soweto on Monday evening, recounted his conversation with Shivambu following the resignation letter.
Malema said he was left in the dark about Shivambu’s decision, despite going to see him personally after the resignation.
“I realised there was no turning back, but I owe it to the membership of the EFF to go and ask ‘what happened’. I am unable to give you that explanation because I never received one.”
The Sunday Times had reported that Malema was secretly seeking a deputy president post for himself in the government of national unity, leaving Shivambu out to dry. Malema vehemently denied these claims, stating that he had publicly pushed for Shivambu to be elected deputy finance minister or for them to secure the deputy speaker position, which would have gone to Veronica Mente.
Shivambu, during a press briefing last Thursday, maintained that his decision to not renew his membership was not a vote of no confidence in the EFF.
“I request that I be released from all positions that I hold from the EFF. I will always cherish them and I wish them full prosperity and success and members of the EFF student command will accept the decision I have taken,” he said.
However, Shivambu’s social media posts over the weekend painted a different picture. He described joining the MK Party as the most sound and solid decision he has ever made.
“The most Solid and Sound Decision Ever!!” he tweeted with an embedded picture of him inscribed ‘Umkhonto Wesizwe, Welcome Cde Floys Shivambu’.
The most Solid and Sound Decision Ever!! pic.twitter.com/6HxfXmHeFe
— Floyd Shivambu (@FloydShivambu) August 17, 2024
Malema, in a clear show of force, announced that he was removing all remnants of Shivambu’s influence within the party.
“All powers that belonged to the deputy president will go to the office of the president. Everything associated with the former deputy president shall be dismantled and removed from the EFF immediately. The GTU (Extended Governance Task Unit) and all those who served under the deputy president are dissolved,” he said.
The GTU, which includes leaders from provincial legislatures, municipality councils and the national Parliament Whippery, oversees governance work in the EFF.
Malema’s comments come just four months before the EFF’s third national people’s assembly, where new leaders are set to be elected. With Shivambu out, it remains to be seen who will make themselves available for the position of deputy leader.
Malema expressed his frustration with members he described as opportunistic.
“Many of them are opportunistic because they want to see whether they will emerge in the upcoming third national people’s assembly before they decide whether they will remain in the EFF or not. Many of them are using the third national people’s assembly as a threat that if they are not elected or are not part of the leadership discussions, then they will leave and join the MK Party,” he said.
Malema’s address highlighted the internal tensions within the EFF as it prepares for its crucial assembly. He made it clear that he would not tolerate members using the conference to advance personal agendas.
“We will not beg anyone to stay. Those who want to leave must leave,” he declared.
“During the first week of Parliament sessions, one leader of the MK Party told me that some of the EFF leaders were so helpful in welcoming them that it was as if they were members of the MK Party. I said which ones and I was given a list of those that welcomed them. It’s clear that you have not been with us,” he said.
Malema’s criticism was particularly directed at EFF MP Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi and Dali Mpofu SC, who have remained silent since the news of Shivambu’s departure. While Ndlozi attended the party’s War Council earlier on Monday, Malema appears to want him to publicly affirm his commitment to the party.
Writer, director and artist Mmabatho Montsho, who is Ndlozi’s partner, liked Shivambu’s post on Instagram in which he wrote: “The time comes in the life of any nation where there remain only two choices – fight or submit.”
It has been speculated that Ndlozi might be the next to jump ship and join Zuma’s new party. Malema said there is a practical way to see where some of the members stand, by looking at what the people close to them stand for.
“How can someone say the decision to join MK Party is the best decision ever taken and my wife Mantwa is the first person to like such a thing and you say Julius Malema is with us when the partner likes the things that seek to denounce the organisation.”
Malema concluded by urging party members to unite and close ranks.
The fallout between Malema and Shivambu comes just four months before the EFF’s third national people’s assembly, where new leaders are set to be elected. With Shivambu out, it remains to be seen who will make themselves available for the position of deputy leader.
Meanwhile, MK Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela confirmed that discussions with Shivambu had begun well before the elections.
“We have been engaging with multiple parties with progressive policies to form a united front. This was before, during and after the elections. As to when comrades decided to join the MK Party, that’s a different story,” he said.
He declined to confirm whether Shivambu had recently met MK Party leader Jacob Zuma.
