Malema: Members who leave EFF as high-profile dwindle into nothing
Julius Malema says there’s no member who has left the EFF since its inception 11 years ago, who has never begged to come back.
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema says those who leave the party as high-profile members dwindle into nothing.
The EFF has faced a mass exodus of prominent leaders who have ditched the Red Berets to join the Jacob Zuma-led uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party. These include co-founder and Malema’s deputy president Floyd Shivambu, Dali Mpofu, Mzwanele Manyi and impeached former public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane.
MALEMA WEIGHS IN ON MEMBERS WHO HAVE DITCH THE EFF
Speaking on David Mashabela’s podcast Malema said when one starts an organisation they should anticipate staff riders who take chances, careerists and opportunists who could not achieve one or two things in the African National Congress (ANC) or any other organisation they served in.
“They then see the EFF as the quickest way to enable them to achieve what they wish for as individuals,” he said.
Malema said those who have left the EFF are using the MK Party to get to their goals quickly because they know from when they (those who have ditched the EFF) represent and what they stand for from when they were young.
“The MK Party does not stand for any of the things they are known for. It means they will have to be another person; they have to divorce themselves to accommodate opportunism,” he said.
PARTY HEADING INTO THIRD ELECTIVE CONFERENCE
The EFF will hold its third national People’s Assembly on 12 – 15 December at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg to elect new leaders and review some of its policies.
Meanwhile, Malema has likened rumours that the party’s former spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is barred from participating in the upcoming elective conference to shebeen gossip.
In November, Sunday World reported that Ndlozi has been barreed from attending all EFF political activities. These include meetings of the party’s War Council, which meets weekly as well as its Central Command Team (CCT).
The publication further reported that Ndlozi was placed on leave of absence, preventing him from doing his job as a member of parliament.
During a media briefing on 25 November, Malema likened the reports about Ndlozi to shebeen gossip. He also said that if the party had something to say about Ndlozi, it would communicate it.
According to reports, Ndlozi knew about Malema’s former deputy, Floyd Shivambu’s departure two weeks before he announced it. Additionally, Shivambu, who has since been appointed the secretary-general of the Jacob Zuma-led uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, said some within the EFF knew about his departure but asked him not to tell Malema that they were aware.
“Our organisation went through a particular period where all the leaders had to come out and defend it and you were not there, why must I be there for you? Why should the organisation be there for you when you were not there for the organisation when it needed you the most.
“The organisation gets insulted, the leadership gets insulted in your name. People even threatened to disrupt the EFF’s conference in your name but you keep quiet,” he said.
DO YOU THINK THE EFF WOULD ONE DAY RETURN TO THE PARTY?
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