In a fiery address at the EFF's Gauteng general assembly, Julius Malema, the party leader, lamented what he termed an "ideological infiltration" and betrayal within the ranks of his party. The recent departure of key members has left Malema reeling, likening these exits to "assassination attempts" against the movement he helped establish.
Among the most notable resignations was that of Floyd Shivambu, Malema's co-founder and trusted ally, who recently joined the corruption-accused former president Jacob Zuma's MK Party (MKP). Since Shivambu's departure, a string of high-profile EFF members, including former national chairperson Dali Mpofu, MPs Mzwanele Manyi and Busisiwe Mkhwebane, as well as Alfred Motsi, the party's first North West convener, have followed suit, further deepening Malema's concerns.
In his speech, Malema did not name those who had left but made it abundantly clear he was referring to Shivambu and others. “The EFF has most recently experienced the most dangerous levels of infiltration. This infiltration has been perpetuated by founders of the movement who have been converted into sleeper agents and double agents who sat among us but reported elsewhere,” he stated emphatically.
Malema's frustration with the situation is palpable. He condemned the ideological infiltration as a sinister force that had been allowed to grow unchecked. “The term infiltration is not a buzzword used to smear those who disagree with us but it captures best the process of when one deliberately entrenches themselves in an organisation for purposes of sabotage, deceit and betrayal,” he explained.
The EFF leader pointed out that the infiltration began long before the resignations of high-ranking members. “It started when certain individuals began to think of themselves as the custodians of thinking in our movement,” he said, which drew applause from the audience. He lamented that the struggle for liberation had become individualised, allowing personal ambition to overshadow ideological principles.
Malema's speech coincided with mounting dissatisfaction with his leadership within the EFF, especially as the party prepares for its upcoming elective conference, dubbed the National People's Assembly (NPA). He noted the infiltration also aimed to sabotage the EFF's election campaign, which has seen a drop in support.
Referring to the pressure the EFF faced to collaborate with the ANC and the government of national unity, Malema said, “We were put under immense pressure by those who have left us behind to write petitions to the ANC for inclusion in their compromised government.” He asserted this push was driven by a desire for positions at the expense of the party’s principles, particularly anti-racism and land reform.
Malema’s rhetoric was sharp as he recalled the betrayal of Thomas Sankara, the revolutionary leader of Burkina Faso, who was assassinated by a former confidante. “The deserting of the EFF in this particular moment in our liberation struggle constitutes an assassination attempt,” he declared. He urged party members not to individualise the betrayal but to recognise it as a larger pattern affecting liberation movements across Africa.
“To not renew your membership of the EFF is a betrayal. To defect from the organisation you founded in favour of an organisation that has just recently surpassed your own organisation in election is opportunism,” he stated, calling out Shivambu’s actions directly.
Malema continued to stress the importance of unity within the party, saying, “Fighters, to lobby aggressively for a leftist, anti-capitalist, anti-racist and socialist movement to co-govern with our oppressor over the lives of the landless African people, is infiltration.” He emphasised that the party must avoid individualism and the promotion of individuals, which he argued feeds egos and leaves the organisation vulnerable.
As tensions rise, Malema reiterated his commitment to fighting corruption, particularly in relation to Zuma. “We are not going to sell the future generations for the dreams of an 82-year-old man who is corrupt to the core,” he declared. “Comrades, we are going to fight corruption during Zuma, even after Zuma. Zuma is corrupt; we were not misled about the corruption of Zuma!”
