By Thabo Mosia
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema said his former deputy, Floyd Shivambu, is to blame for the party’s poor performance in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). Malema accused Shivambu of playing a l role in the party’s perceived decline in the province, which saw a mere 2% voter support in the latest general elections.
Shivambu, a founding member of the EFF, left the red berets in August to join the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party. The dramatic departure has since added another layer of complexity to the shifting political landscape in South Africa, drawing attention to factional rifts within progressive movements.
Ahead of the 29 May election, the EFF had tasked Shivambu with expanding its presence in KZN. However, his efforts proved unsuccessful, leaving the party with a disappointing 2% share of the votes in the province. Malema, in his speech, did not hold back from laying the blame on Shivambu, stating, “We are even being kind by saying that the person who was deployed for the elections was divorced from reality in KZN. It may even be true, and more worrying, that he was aware of the damage to come in KZN and kept quiet because he had already chosen to betray this movement.”
The accusation comes amid broader claims that former President Jacob Zuma is actively working to undermine the EFF by poaching its members to bolster the newly established MK party. Shivambu, alongside prominent figures like Busisiwe Mkhwebane and Jimmy Manyi, has been named among those allegedly recruited by Zuma’s camp.
Malema’s Rhetoric: A Call Against Infiltration
Addressing delegates at the Gauteng Provincial Assembly, Malema painted a picture of a party struggling with infiltration, which he claimed was facilitated by some of its founding members. “The EFF has most recently experienced dangerous levels of infiltration, because this infiltration has been perpetuated by founders of this movement,” Malema remarked.
In an impassioned plea, he urged party members to safeguard the party’s integrity. “To allow yourself to be bought to undermine the integrity of the 3rd NPA of the EFF would constitute a form of infiltration, and you will be remembered in the same lines as those who have left the EFF who tried and failed to infiltrate and destroy this people’s movement,” he declared.
Drawing parallels with historical betrayals in revolutionary movements, Malema emphasized the importance of guarding against ideological infiltration that, he suggested, masks itself as revolutionary discourse while serving personal interests. He insisted, “It is when ideas and principles are sacrificed at the altar of self-interest, that infiltration manifests itself, and that self-interest can be disguised as being in the best interests of the movement.”
Zuma’s Alleged Role and Malema’s Defiance
Malema’s speech didn’t shy away from casting aspersions on Jacob Zuma, labeling him as corrupt and dismissing his calls for unity across political groups. Malema’s retort was emphatic: “We ARE NOT going to sell the future generation for the dreams of an 82-year-old man WHO IS CORRUPT TO THE CORE… ZUMA IS CORRUPT! We were NOT misled about the corruption of Zuma.”
He depicted Zuma’s overtures for the formation of a united black front as a deceitful ploy intended to consolidate power rather than genuinely empower the marginalized. The overarching theme in Malema’s address was vigilance against betrayal and the resilience required in the face of subterfuge.
Floyd Shivambu: From EFF Stalwart to MK Party Secretary General
For many, Shivambu’s departure to the MK party is emblematic of deeper ideological and strategic divides within South Africa’s revolutionary left. Once a trusted deputy president of the EFF, Shivambu’s transition to Jacob Zuma’s political outfit has raised questions about his motivations and future ambitions.
Now serving as the MK party’s organizer and recently appointed Secretary General, Shivambu’s role suggests he is poised to enhance the party’s organizational capacity, even as the EFF struggles with his absence in key strategy positions such as in the Eastern Cape.
EFF Assemblies and the Challenge Ahead
The EFF recently concluded successful provincial assemblies nationwide. Marshal Dlamini, the EFF Secretary General, addressed the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial General Assembly, an event imbued with challenges that mirror those experienced nationwide.
Malema delivered his Gauteng address, emphasizing the importance of anti-corruption campaigns and democratic discipline within the party’s ranks. This stance underscores his refusal to let internal factions detract from the EFF’s broader goal of championing black liberation and economic freedom.
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