Malema Criticises High-Profile Departures From EFF, Labels Them “Assassination Attempts”

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has lashed out at the recent exodus of prominent party members, describing their desertion during what he termed a critical juncture as an “assassination attempt.” The fiery statement was delivered during the EFF’s Gauteng general assembly on Sunday.

High-Profile Exits to MK Party

The EFF has seen several notable figures, including Floyd Shivambu, Dali Mpofu, Mzwanele Manyi, Busisiwe Mkhwebane, and most recently, founding member Alfred Motsi, defecting to former president Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP). The MKP recently surpassed the EFF in elections, a fact Malema referred to while accusing the defectors of opportunism.

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He framed the departures as part of a broader historical pattern of infiltration and betrayal faced by liberation movements. He expressed gratitude that those leaving chose to do so openly rather than undermine the party from within.

“The greatest fear should not be our own death but what would have happened to this revolutionary movement if the path to kill us was chosen rather than the path to abandon us,” Malema said. “Perhaps we must be thankful the path to desert us was chosen instead.”

The EFF leader accused the defectors of being “sleeper agents and double agents” who had worked against the party’s mission while feigning loyalty.

Malema Criticism of Jacob Zuma

Malema reserved his harshest words for former president Jacob Zuma, now leading the MKP. He dismissed Zuma as an ineffectual leader incapable of uniting South Africans, despite his advanced years and lengthy political career.

“Only the EFF can unite black people in South Africa. How do you say you can unite people when you are 82 years old, having failed to unite them for the past 82 years?” Malema remarked.

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Malema also reiterated his party’s stance against corruption, accusing both Zuma and President Cyril Ramaphosa of fostering corrupt systems. He urged EFF supporters to join upcoming protests against Ramaphosa’s controversial Phala Phala scandal.

This latest development underscores rising tensions between the EFF and the MKP, as the latter continues to attract former EFF leaders. Malema’s defiance signals the party’s resolve to confront internal and external challenges ahead of the 2024 elections.

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