The founder and leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Julius Malema, finds himself in a precarious position as several co-founders and long-standing political allies defect to join another opposition party, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), under the leadership of former South African President Jacob Zuma.
Analysts suggest that these defections could signal an intention to diminish the EFF from a once-vibrant movement into a shadow of its former self. Notably, the defectors are not aligning with the ruling African National Congress (ANC) but with the MK party, further complicating South Africa’s political dynamics.
The defections are reportedly linked to Malema’s rejection of a proposed merger between the EFF and the MK party ahead of the May 2024 elections. Despite significant support for the merger within the EFF’s senior ranks, Malema exercised his authority to veto the agreement, allegedly fearing a diminished role in a collaborative political setup with Zuma.
Insiders accuse Malema of steering the EFF away from its revolutionary principles, centralizing power, and alienating key allies. His leadership style, they claim, has contributed to the exodus of founding members and impeded the party’s national growth.
Among the prominent defectors is Floyd Shivambu, the former deputy leader of the EFF, who joined the MK party just three months after the elections, assuming the powerful role of Secretary-General. Following suit, Mzwanele Manyi transitioned to the MK party, becoming its Chief Whip, but lost his parliamentary seat in the process.
In October, Busisiwe Mkhwebane, a former EFF member, resigned and joined MK as Party Convenor. Dali Mpofu, the former EFF chairperson, also defected to MK, ending a five-year tenure with the party. Other notable founding members who have left include Alferd Motsi, Patrick Sindane, Kenny Motsamai, and Fafa Mokena.
Malema has dismissed the defectors as opportunists and remains defiant, asserting that the EFF will not disintegrate despite the departures. However, the party’s standing in the National Assembly has been affected. After the May 2024 elections, the EFF secured 39 seats, making it the fourth-largest party behind the ANC (159 seats), the Democratic Alliance (87 seats), and the MK party (58 seats).
The MK party’s emergence as a dynamic opposition force poses a significant challenge to the EFF. By absorbing former EFF members and adopting revolutionary policies once synonymous with the EFF, the MK party has positioned itself as a formidable contender in South African politics.
As the defections continue, Malema faces mounting pressure to address the internal divisions threatening the survival of the EFF and his own political legacy.
