Tensions are intensifying between the main players in the so-called Progressive Caucus ( informal parliamentary block opposing Government of National Unity). The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have vowed to fight back against Umkhonto Wesizwe over the latter’s active recruitment of the former’s leaders. Outgoing EFF leader Julius Malema made the point during an interview with the party’s National Spokesperson Leigh-Ann Mathys on an internal platform. Malema accused former President Jacob Zuma of declaring war on him by poaching EFF leaders. Malema’s former deputy, Floyd Shivambu is the most prominent person to defect to the 11 month old MKP with the likes of Dali Mpofu and Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane who was impeached when serving as Public Protector having followed him. Malema said Zuma was bitter that after expelling him from the ANC when he was president of its youth league, he emerged through the EFF, currently the 4th largest political party in South Africa.
“What is happening now can’t intimidate me, can’t shock me. I can’t be threatened by Zuma, no I defeated Zuma. Zuma thought he buried me, expelled me from the ANC for comparing him with Thabo Mbeki for saying there’s regime change which happened now in Botswana now, I was guilty for that. I was expelled from the ANC by Zuma and Ramaphosa was used as an instrument. So my encounter with Zuma is not for the first time that it is the way it is now. He’s inviting me back to fight with him and I will do it and I will do it with ease. I am not scared of Zuma or his people that he’s working with,” said Malema.
Malema suggested the affection being displayed by EFF and MKP may be a thing of the past also accusing Zuma of being pretentious. “There’s no way anyone is going to threaten the existence of the EFF and that person becomes a friend, it will be a lie, we would be lying to ourselves. People keep on stepping you at the back and then when they meet you in public they want to be smiling and all of that, no no, keep your distance, lets just know we are not together,” said Malema.
He also insinuated that the likes of Shivambu and Mpofu are lazy and don’t have much political currency.
“Many of them are known for laziness anyway, they are not of any political currency, we had to carry them,” he said.
Malema said he has a list of other EFF leaders who were planning to jump ship. ” What is very unfortunate, this thing is staggered because if it’s done once it will not be newsworthy, it will just be that week and it is done so it’s done every week so I have got a list, there’s another one next week. So everything that has been happening I have been aware of it. I was only shocked by Floyd. Some have even went to ask in parliament if they leave parliament now how much will they get, you know the most stupid thing they even ask my PA to go and check for them how much they will get so when they say CIC CIC I just look at them and say ‘ you are waiting to cash up my guy,” said Malema.
In one of the interviews Shivambu revealed that most EFF leaders knew he was to leave the party except for Malema which the EFF leader said is a sign of disloyalty.
“I will never leave my glass with them and say I am going to the bathroom or to take a phone call. They operate as if they are smarter than us. Floyd says, and he’s not lying, there are people who knew he was leaving but backed him not to tell me but they knew and its true, I called them, some of your favourites and said come here and then asked him did you know Floyd is leaving and said yes, how long, may two weeks but why didn’t you tell me,” said Malema.
Some in the media have been speculating Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi may be the latest to jump ship with MKP courting him publicly ( mostly on social media).
“Mbuyiseni is my brother. My relationship with him is not just political, we are brothers, he’s my brother, we have worked together for more than 20 years,” said Shivambu during a recent interview with the SABC.
The tension between the two comes as the Democratic Alliance claimed the Government of National Unity was a huge success liked by South Africans.