MP Mbuyiseni Ndlozi will not be leaving the Economic Freedom Fighters as speculated by several media outlets.
“I hear here people are talking about Dr Ndlozi, Dr Ndlozi is a member of the EFF, he’s a leader of the EFF and no organisation can claim him except for the EFF.
Party leader Julius Malema told thousands of supporters at the Constitution Hill in Johannesburg that the former spokesperson and outgoing member of the party’s Central Command Team ( highest decision making body in between conferences) is not going anywhere.
So you must not listen to gossip from drunkards talking from drinking holes you must ask us as the EFF leaders and we will tell you that Ndlozi is an active EFF member. He renewed his membership, he is in the membership system of the EFF,” said Malema to loud cheers.
Ndlozi who at some stage appeared to be Malema’s right-hand is currently being isolated by the EFF leader on the basis of suspicion that he could be an UMkhonto Wesizwe sleeper.
Malema insinuated Ndlozi knew about Shivambu’s plans to defect to MKP but did not inform him which the outspoken leader said constitute betrayal and disloyalty.
“I do not trust them and will never trust them. Because trust is earned when you show loyalty at the point where it’s most needed,” said Malema during a media briefing in Johannesburg on Monday in a comment that was widely inferred to be referring Ndlozi.
Until this week Ndlozi himself was quite as speculation about his possible move went into overdrive until recently when he responded to a Mail & Gaurdian article claiming a rebellion was brewing in the party over his candidacy.
Rubbish! Anyone who loves the EFF will do no such thing,” he said in reply to the article on social media platform X.
Ndlozi’s woes were worsened by a clearly calculated attempt by Shivambu to cause tension between him and a Malema when he claimed in an interview that Ndlozi was his “brother” when he previously dismissed notions of brotherhood with Malema even likening their relationship to some gangster affair.
Impeached Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane also confirmed MKP was recruiting EFF leaders when she told Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh that she had been approached many times by Zuma’s party which she joined just days after leaving the EFF.
Malema declared war on MKP for its overtures to EFF leaders and vowed to spare no effort in defeating Zuma’s party.
Ndlozi is not the first EFF leader to be isolated by the party and Malema.
Member of Parliament Sinawo Thambo was quietly removed as party spokesperson at the height of the May general elections after allegedly engaging in a drinking spree and failing to attend to his duties.
Just as in the case of Ndlozi there was no official communication from the EFF about Thambo and he found himself having to retweet the party’s posts from home in a clear bid to regain favour, a practice that Ndlozi also appeared to have taken up.
In fact, Thambo was only welcomed back into the fold on aftermath of Shivambu’s departure with Malema announcing during a rally in Soweto he would replace his former deputy in parliament.
Thambo had initially been left out of the EFF list of MPs.