Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has pointed the finger at his former deputy, Floyd Shivambu, for the party’s dismal electoral performance in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). Speaking at the EFF’s Gauteng Provincial General Assembly over the weekend, Malema accused Shivambu of sabotage, betrayal, and undermining the party’s efforts in the province ahead of the May 29 elections.
The EFF had tasked Shivambu with spearheading its campaign in KZN to bolster the party’s presence. However, the results painted a grim picture: the EFF managed only 2% of the vote, securing just one seat in the provincial legislature. Meanwhile, Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) swept the province with 45.93% of the vote, becoming a dominant force.
Adding to the controversy, Shivambu resigned from the EFF in August to join MK, describing the decision as his best ever. Malema claimed this defection was not coincidental but part of a broader plan to destabilize the EFF in KZN.
Malema didn’t hold back, alleging that Shivambu’s actions in KZN went beyond incompetence, hinting at a deliberate effort to sabotage the party. “The person deployed to KZN for elections was divorced from reality. It may even be true, and more worrying, that he was aware of the damage to come and chose to stay silent because he had already decided to betray this movement,” Malema stated.
The EFF leader further claimed that Shivambu, along with other senior leaders who left the party, orchestrated “infiltration and betrayal,” aiming to dismantle the organization from within.
Malema also accused Shivambu of putting personal ambition above party principles, revealing that Shivambu had allegedly pressured the EFF leadership to petition the African National Congress (ANC) for inclusion in a Government of National Unity (GNU). Malema described this as a betrayal of the EFF’s core values.
“We were pressured to abandon our principles of anti-racism and land redistribution in favor of positions in a compromised government led by the descendants of settler colonialists and white supremacists,” Malema said, expressing outrage at the attempt to undermine the party’s revolutionary ethos.
As the EFF prepares for its upcoming elective conference next month, the party plans to address the media on Monday to chart its course forward. Despite the setbacks, Malema remained resolute, framing the betrayal as a lesson for the EFF to emerge stronger and more vigilant against internal threats.
With Shivambu now part of MK and KZN’s political landscape reshaped, the EFF faces an uphill battle to reclaim its foothold in the province. For Malema, the party’s survival hinges on its ability to resist infiltration, rebuild its structures, and stay true to its principles in the face of political treachery.
