EFF leader Julius Malema attended the party's election conference. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Gilius Malema has issued a stern warning to journalists not to ask questions related to the party's political education director Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, who was absent from the election conference.
“He is not here and it is not for us to entertain such nonsense,” Malema told reporters on the sidelines of the EFF's Third National People's Congress, currently being held in Nestlec, Soweto, on Saturday morning. It's not about profit,'' he said, clearly irritated.
When the conference opened on Friday, N'Drogi, one of the EFF's high-profile figures, was conspicuously absent.
“I will not answer questions about Mbuyiseni Ndlozi,” Malema said on Saturday.
“I have no responsibility for Mbuyiseni Ndlozi. The people who are here, 90% of the people who are expected to be here, are here, that's what matters.” I wasn't supposed to be here. Therefore, I do not intend to reduce this organization to any particular individual. We're going to reject it. ”
In November, email and guardian Ndlozi was barred from attending any activities, including party meetings, the report said. This comes after some in the EFF raised concerns about Floyd Shivambu's loyalty to the organization due to his close ties to former vice-president Floyd Shivambu, who defected to the Umkhonto Wisizwe (MK) party. That's what it meant.
Mr Ndlozi has also been attacked by some party members for not defending the EFF during difficult times when Jacob Zuma's MK party was fielding members.
Last month, Malema told EFF supporters outside the Constitutional Court that Ndlozi had renewed his party membership but was not going anywhere, adding that no political party could claim him.
“I hear people talking about Dr Ndlozi as a member of the EFF. He is the leader of the EFF and no organization other than the EFF can claim him,” Malema said at the time.
“Don't listen to drunken gossip. If you ask us about the EFF leader, we will tell you that Ndlozi is an active EFF member. became a member of
On Thursday, EFF general secretary Marshall Dlamini told a press conference that the party had no intention of limiting the meeting to individuals.
“We are now at the Third National People's Congress. This NPA will prove that there is no bigger organization than this organization. This is an organization of members of the EFF. Because you are a member. , I know what is expected. So I'm not going to accept any name. There are 2,500 representatives here. It starts there and ends there,” Dlamini said.
On Saturday, an irate Mr Malema asked journalists why the party should be concerned about one person, as if the meeting would not take place without Mr Ndlozi.
“We have to monitor the movements of individuals. Why should we worry about one person among the many people here as if they were attending a meeting? People. can be heard saying, “He's here, he's doing this.” He is not here and it is not in our interest to entertain such nonsense,” he said.
“We're dealing with political issues here. It's not about egoism, it's not about people thinking they're bigger than this organization. It's about showing them once again that it's bigger than everyone else. Therefore, as a matter of principle, policy and SG's position, we will no longer respond to any nonsense about Mbuyiseni Ndlozi.
He said the issue had been resolved and that “you (journalists) can discuss this among yourselves and do not bring it to us. We refuse to do that.” repeated.
There has been speculation that if Mr Ndlozi is nominated for any position, he may vote from his seat at home.
Asked whether party members could run as candidates without attending meetings, Malema said no one had been barred from running.
“They can still send letters,” he added.
