EFF leader Julius Malema has declared the Jacob Zuma-led MK party its “biggest enemy” as senior members of the leftist party continue to defect to the official opposition which has set it sights on unseating the government of national unity (GNU).
Malema’s stance is a deviation from his posture during the run-up to the May 29 elections, which resulted in the MK party overtaking the EFF as the third largest party in SA: Malema has said he was willing to work with the newly formed party.
Earlier this year, Malema and Zuma had seemed to have reconciled after a breakdown in their relationship years ago that led to Malema being expelled from the governing party’s youth league.
The EFF leader also was a vocal critic of Zuma during his nearly decade-long presidency and had, on numerous occasions, called for the former president to be held accountable for various corruption scandals that characterised his tenure.
EFF and MK, however, share similar economic policies — including the expropriation of white-owned land and the state’s ownership of mines and banks — and are both part of the progressive caucus in parliament, which was established by a group of opposition parties to oppose the 10-member GNU.
“We have no relationship with MK party and even worse now when MK party has made it its programme to recruit members of the EFF,” Malema explained during a media conference on Monday.
The EFF has organised a march outside the Constitutional Court in Johannesburg on Tuesday, ahead of its court case where it will argue that Parliament’s decision in 2023 to forego an impeachment investigation into President Cyril Ramaphosa due to the Phala Phala issue, was unconstitutional.
“MK party won’t be a part of that. If they want to march they must go and organise their own. Even the ANC can’t join us [but] anyone that has been opposed to Phala Phala can join us,” Malema said.
Malema’s former deputy, Floyd Shivambu; two MPs, Mzwanele Manyi and Busisiwe Mkhwebane; and advocate Dali Mpofu all defected to the MK party following the election, raising tension between the two parties.
The EFF is preparing for its internal elective conference in December, where Malema seeks to be elected as party leader. Should he succeed, Malema would have led the party since its inception in 2013.
Secretary-general Marshall Dlamini said he would accept re-election into the position if nominated by party branches.
The exit of Shivambu and others has heightened internal tension with Malema, who has said silence by prominent figures in the party amid public scrutiny amounted to betrayal.
Delegates to the elective conference will choose new leaders for a period of five years, including its top six officials and members of the 40-member central command team, which is the party’s top decision-making body.
The party’s branch and regional people’s assemblies are expected to get under way this month, where members will nominate their preferred candidates.
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