Cape Town – EFF leader Julius Malema has declared he is unfazed by what he sees as former president Jacob Zuma’s attempt to provoke him into conflict.
This follows the high-profile defection of several EFF members to Zuma’s MK Party, including EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu, Mzwanele Manyi, Busisiwe Mkhwebane, and Dali Mpofu, with more rumored to be leaving.
The MK Party recently overtook the EFF as the third-largest party in voter support, pushing the EFF to fourth place.
Speaking on the EFF’s podcast, Malema said that he feels no fear toward Zuma, referencing past conflicts with him and asserting that he’ll defend the EFF’s existence.
“This, 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 is a regime change which happened in Botswana now. I was expelled from the ANC by Zuma, and Ramaphosa was used as an instrument, Malema said.
He continued: “He’s inviting me to fight with him and I’ll do and I’ll do it with ease I’m not scared of Zuma or all of his people who are working with him. There is no way anyone is going to threaten the existence of the EFF and that person becomes a friend — it would be a lie. People keep stabbing you at the back and then when they meet you they want to be smiling and all of that. No no, keep your distance, let’s just know we’re not together.”
Malema criticised the departed members, except Shivambu, whose exit he admitted was surprising. He described some former members as lacking political influence and said he would maintain distance from them.
Both the EFF and MK Party are part of the progressive caucus in parliament, opposing the GNU.
The EFF is preparing for its elective conference next month to elect new leadership, with Malema at the helm since the party’s founding in 2013.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Source: AFP
Picture: X/@Sbusiso_MM
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
