By The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have hardly recovered from the departure of Adv. Busisiwe Mkhwebana to uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), this week they were dealt with another massive blow of co-founder and former national Chairperson Adv. Dali Mpofu migrating to MKP.
The exodus from the EFF continues to take place in dribs and drabs and MKP seems to be promise land flowing with milk and honey. There are a lot of speculations on what is happening and the reasons behind it; but one thing is for sure, the EFF is taking a serious knock, so much uncertainty encircles the party ahead of its elective conference in December.
More surprising about Mpofu’s departure is that he revealed that he was part or involved in the formation of MKP. He told the Public Broadcaster during an exclusive interview that at some point, it was only him and Jacob Zuma who knew about the formation of MKP before other people were brought on board.
Though the politics of MKP and EFF are somewhat similar, something about MKP is attractive to politicians from the African National Congress (ANC) and the EFF; former President Jacob Zuma keeps eating form these two parties.
In the May 2024, general elections, the MKP reduced voting support for the ANC significantly and became one of the largest political parties in the country with just months into the space. It also injured the EFF that was confident that they will win the elections or become an official opposition party.
After the departure of Dali Mpofu, the Commander In Chief (CIC) of the EFF Julius Malema said on his X account there are two more of the people’s favourites who are to leave the EFF, then the list will be complete. This seems to suggest that Malema is aware of the plans and moves happening within his party.
On the EFF’s podcast, Malema said the exodus of Adv. Dali Mpofu was not a surprise to him as he saw it coming. He said Mpofu has been advocating for the collapse of the EFF into MKP but they refused; ironically, even Floyd Shivambu was surprised by Mpofu’s moves and that he had written the whole thing down, but Shivambu left the EFF for MKP before Mpofu.
There are speculations that at this rate, the EFF will be reduced to insignificance in the upcoming local elections and the general elections; that this may be the beginning of the end for the EFF. Some say it’s all a game, the EFF and MKP are working together to achieve a certain gaol, and the plan is being executed very well and effectively.
Still some say it is EFF’s way of infiltrating the MKP and take over its reins; some say its Jacob Zuma’s way of revenging himself for what Malema and the EFF did to him, by destroying the EFF bit by bit.
Whatever the case may be, politics can be very tricky at times, sometimes to really know the truth and understand what is going on, one has to wait until the end. However, Malema is a political beast, he eats and sleeps politics, he knows all the tricks and strategies, and one can never put anything past him. The EFF changed the face of politics and shook the world upon their entry and made lots of enemies and survived while they were prophesied to be like COPE in short period of time, instead the party grew stronger and bigger.
Something in me tells me, the EFF is about to shock the world with a massive push and come back. For some time the party ran like a well-oiled machine until the introduction of MKP. On the other hand, Zuma is a brilliant political chess player of note; he has extensive experience on underground intelligence operations, he was involved in the overthrow of the apartheid regime, you can never take him for granted.
The tragedy about South African politics would not be the death of one or the other political party, but a war between two black parties that advocate for similar ideology. The enemy can sit back, kick off his shoes and watch brothers and sisters destroy each other and continue to rule and call the shorts.
Instead of uniting and forming a formidable force that will unite the black nation, take back the land and its wealth, arrogance, pride and power blinds the leaders of the real goal, of what matters the most. While the battle continues between parties and on who is the betters strategist, black people continue to suffer, continue to live in poverty and the struggle for economic emancipation continues.
