EFF leader Julius Malema. (Photo by Gallo Images/Sharon Seretlo)
pictureEconomic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has reappointed secretary-general Marshall Dlamini to the party's leadership following the defection of former deputy prime minister Floyd Shivambu to Jacob Zuma's Umkhonto weSizwe party last week.
Dlamini will serve as the EFF's parliamentary whip, while Malema's office will oversee the governance task unit. The unit, headed by Shivambu, includes EFF leaders from provincial, city and parliamentary assemblies and is responsible for the party's governance activities, Malema said on Monday.
He was in Soweto addressing the EFF's Gauteng ground forces for the first time since Shivambu's departure.
Former party spokesman Sinawo Tambo will take over Shivambu's seat, while Najiel Poulsen will replace Mzwanele Mani, who also moved to the MK party.
Shivambu's resignation comes four months before the party is due to elect a new leader at its third conference, in what was initially expected to be a close race for the posts of deputy leader and general secretary.
The EFF is still reeling from its lackluster performance in the May 29 general election, after it lost its position as the country's third largest party to MK.
Speaking on Monday, Malema hit back at Shivambu for refusing to renew his EFF membership, saying he would not beg anyone to stay.
“You must leave the party today. Nothing will change now. Leave the party now. We have no reason to beg anyone. If you want to leave now… even if it is just us, we will speak truth to power,” a visibly infuriated Malema said, urging those wanting to succeed Shivambu to quit the party before the electoral conference.
Former EFF spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, former chairperson and prominent lawyer Dali Mpofu and current chairperson Veronica Menthe are said to be among those set to leave the party.
Malema commented last week that he was aware of the impending defection of party members to MK, but on Monday said he had been comforted by supporters who attended a rally in Soweto.
“I stand before you inspired by your energy, your fearless nature and the way you face the opposition without hesitation. They said I was alone. Today, I can proudly say that I am not alone,” he said.
“I respect that you have been, knowingly or unknowingly, on the front lines of defense of your organization. No one has the right to tell you how to defend it.”
He called on party members who have remained silent over Shivambu's resignation to clarify whether they intend to stay or leave, adding that those who have remained silent amid attacks on the EFF are “silent enemies of our organisation”.
“You are busy promoting a particular person to the public as your successor after other resignations, while remaining silent when people decide to abandon you. Why can't people choose you? Why do you keep choosing people who will never choose you? When the time comes for them to choose you, they remain silent,” he said, without taking any names.
“They are choosing the more favourable environment. Many of them are opportunists because they want to see if they can emerge in the upcoming third People's Congress before deciding whether to remain with the EFF.”
Malema called on party members to unite and stand united against any forces seeking to use the December conference as an opportunity to “infiltrate and destroy the EFF”.
“Many of them are using the Third People's Congress as a threat. If they are not elected or cannot take part in leadership discussions, they will leave the party and join the MK Party.”
“We must never be intimidated by those who are threatening to withdraw after the third people's rally. We want to tell them: withdraw now and then we will see how many soldiers will withdraw. [the party has left]” he said.
“We must guard against opportunism, factionism, self-centeredness, greed and all attempts to distract us from the mission of our generation.”
