EFF leader Julius Malema addressed a gathering of party ground forces in Orlando, Soweto, on Monday evening, where he spoke about the departure of his deputy and co-founder, Floyd Shivambu, to the uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) Party. A visibly emotional Malema recounted his conversation with Shivambu: “I asked him, ‘What did I do wrong? You owe it to me to explain, so I don’t repeat it with SG [Marshall Dlamini]’. He said nothing, just that it was a political decision. I don’t believe that, but I respect it.”
Malema added that when he went to see Shivambu following the resignation letter, he 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.”
Last Thursday, the party called a press briefing at its headquarters in Marshalltown amid reports that Shivambu would be leaving the party. During the briefing Shivambu said his decision to not renew his membership was not a vote of no confidence in the party.
“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.
Read more: Malema says ‘pain’ of Shivambu quitting EFF for MK party like hearing of his own mother’s death
The Sunday Times reported that Malema was secretly seeking a deputy president post for himself in the government of national unity, leaving Shivambu out to dry. Malema dismissed these claims during his address, saying he 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.
Despite the apparent rift, Malema had seemed to be managing the break-up well. He had previously indicated he was willing to bend the EFF’s constitution to allow Shivambu to return, but that offer now appears to be off the table.
Hardening his stance, Malema said 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,” he said. “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.”
The GTU, which includes leaders from provincial legislatures, municipality councils and the national Parliament Whippery, oversees governance work in the EFF.
Read more: Five ways Floyd Shivambu’s defection from EFF to MK could harm Malema’s party
Malema’s comments come in the wake of Shivambu’s social media posts over the weekend, in which he described joining the MK Party as the most sound and solid decision he has ever made.
The most Solid and Sound Decision Ever!! pic.twitter.com/6HxfXmHeFe
— Floyd Shivambu (@FloydShivambu) August 17, 2024
“[If] you want to deploy anyone into the government on behalf of the EFF, you shall report to the office of the president. We are taking charge of our organization, we are tired of entrusting in the hands of [the] wrong people, we have been betrayed for too long.”
Marshall Dlamini will take over as the party’s chief whip in Parliament, while former spokesperson Sinawo Tambo is returning to the National Assembly to fill the seat vacated by Shivambu. Nazier Paulsen will replace Mzwanele Manyi, who has also joined the MK Party.
MK Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela confirmed this week 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,” he said. “This was before, during and after the elections. As to when comrades decided to join the MK Party, that’s a different story.”
He declined to confirm whether Shivambu had recently met MK Party leader Jacob Zuma.
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.
Malema expressed his frustration with those he described as opportunistic members within the party. “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.
He also said that during the first week of Parliament sessions, one leader of the MK Party told him 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.
In his impassioned address, Malema also criticised EFF leaders who have remained silent during these turbulent times, accusing them of betrayal. Notably, EFF MP Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi and Dali Mpofu SC, who have been quiet since the news of Shivambu’s departure, were not spared Malema’s criticism.
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. DM