Is this the end of the once-formidable EFF?

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The EFF continues to lose its high-profile members drastically. A member leaves the party almost every month, and most are directing their attention towards the MK party. According to Daily Maverick On July 29, 2023, the party painted the FNB Stadium red when it celebrated its 10^th anniversary, a sign that the party was growing in numbers, and some even speculated that the party would win the 2024 elections, which took place on May 29 according to the Electoral Commission of South Africa.

However, things took a wild turn with the formation of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party.

IS THE MK PARTY THE CAUSE OF THE EFF LOSING ITS MEMBERS?

The MK party, led by former president of South Africa Jacob Zuma, surprised many when it surpassed the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and secured third place nationally in the 2024 national elections. But that was just the beginning of the end. Seeing that the MK party was growing in numbers, EFF members began flocking to uMkhonto weSizwe.

As reported by Mail&Guardian, the party had lost members before, including Andile Mngxitama and Khanyisile Litchfield-Tshabalala, who were expelled in 2015. Kenny Kunene was the only high-profile person who left the party before the 2024 elections.

After achieving fourth place nationally during the elections, the first prominent person to leave the party was the Deputy President of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Floyd Shivambu. Shivambu’s departure shocked South Africa, as he had a strong bond with the party’s president, Julius Malema.

Following Shivambu’s departure, more prominent figures began leaving the party to join the MK party, including former chairperson Dali Mpofu, Mzwanele Manyi, former member of the National Assembly of South Africa Busisiwe Mkhwebane, and Alfred Motsi.

MK PARTY IS NOT THE ONLY TO BLAME IN EFF’S DOWNFALL

As people, we tend to direct blame on somebody else whenever we have a setback and fail to look within and be honest with ourselves.

According to Daily Maverick, when the EFF held its 10^th anniversary at FNB Stadium, Malema expelled EFF members for not bringing enough buses and supporters to the stadium for the celebration. Approximately 210 public office-bearers of the EFF were removed.

The party has been struggling to build genuine relationships among its top leadership. Malema is left with Carl Niehaus who assured him that he will never abandon the EFF.

Mbuyiseni Ndlozi’s silence has people wondering about his next move as there are allegations of him being removed from party activities. The Citizen reported that Ndlozi was barred from attending the EFF’s elective conference that will take place on December 12-15.

Speaking to The Citizen, a Political analyst from UNISA, Sanet Solomon, mentioned that Ndlozi’s silence is strategic.

“The silence is, unfortunately, allowing the political gossip mill to seek clarity on his possible departure from the party instead of protecting a possible ally,” he said.

According to TimesLIVE, Minister of Science and Innovation Blade Ndzimande asked a question to Ndlozi about him and the EFF during a debate in Parliament.

He asked, “When are you leaving?”

Ndlozi responded by smiling and reading the parliament rules book.

He read, “Rule 142 section 6 says a supplementary question must arise from the original question. There is a definition of supplementary question; I request that you, the speaker, be consistent with the rules as we move on. It is out of order for a member to stand in the opportunity for a supplementary question and read the original question. You should have ruled that out of order.”

Whether the EFF will survive or not is still in question. The party will hold its third elective conference next month at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg. More than 2500 EFF members from branches across the country are set to attend.