Johannesburg – In a significant blow to the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), another founding member and senior official, Alfred Motsi, has resigned from the party and joined the opposition Umkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP).
Motsi, who served as the EFF’s first North West provincial convener following the party’s formation in 2013, also became their inaugural premier candidate in the 2014 elections. His resignation comes as the EFF prepares for its National People’s Assembly, scheduled for December 13th to 15th, adding to the internal turmoil within the party.
In a telephone interview, Motsi confirmed his decision to join the MKP, citing deep dissatisfaction with the direction the EFF has taken. He stated unequivocally, “The EFF’s taken a wrong turn and now it’s dead. It’s that simple.”
He levelled serious accusations against the party’s provincial secretary, Keobakile ‘Papiki’ Babuile, alleging that Babuile’s leadership had severely damaged the organisation.
Motsi detailed his attempts to address these concerns within the party, stating: “Although letters of complaint were sent to the national office about his [Babuile’s] behaviour, nothing was done about it. After several complaints, secretary-general Marshall Dlamini came to the province and met with some members who’d complained. However, instead of addressing the issue, Dlamini ridiculed the complainant.”
He further recounted a meeting with Dlamini following the May 29th elections, where Dlamini accused regional members of supporting the ANC during campaigning, disregarding the significant loss of 27,000 voters.
This, Motsi said, was the final straw. “My mind was made up. I could no longer take it because even the party leader, Julius Malema, who was always on speed-dial, was no longer answering my phone calls,” he explained. The breakdown in communication with Malema underscores the depth of the rift between Motsi and the party’s leadership.
Motsi’s history with the EFF is deeply intertwined with its origins. Before joining the EFF, he was the provincial chairperson of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Military Veterans’ Association in North West. He recounted the early days of the EFF, a time when disillusionment with the ANC among former MK soldiers led to the formation of the Asijiki Force, a group that actively sought out leaders to join their new party.
“When Julius and Floyd were suspended, we approached them to be our leaders and that was how we ended up with the EFF,” Motsi recalled.
He vividly described the humble beginnings of the party, recalling how he and other early members slept in Floyd Shivambu’s old BMW while travelling across the province to establish branches, due to a lack of funds for accommodation. It was Shivambu, he added, who coined the name Economic Freedom Fighters.
Motsi highlighted his close relationship with Malema, stating: “I was always so close to Julius that when there were issues needing the national leadership to be consulted, he was the one I called.”
However, this close relationship did not shield him from accusations of being a Zuma supporter, due to his connections with former President Jacob Zuma and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.
“I couldn’t shake that label off my back, but my dedication to the organisation was unparalleled,” he asserted.
Motsi’s ambitions extend beyond his own defection. He aims to recruit a significant portion of the EFF’s membership, particularly those who have been expelled from the party.
“I’ve already touched base with 48% of the members and leaders of the party. I can promise you that the EFF won’t get more than five seats in the next elections. I’m saying this because I’m not working alone; there are many unhappy members and councillors who’re now defecting to the MKP,” he boldly predicted.
He specifically mentioned recruiting the majority of EFF councillors in Bojanala and Rustenburg, highlighting the potential for a substantial shift in political allegiances in the region.
