Cape Town – EFF leader Julius Malema says he hopes former president Jacob Zuma will soon join his party, which he referred to as “a home of rehabilitation”.
His remarks came shortly after the spokesperson for the Zuma Foundation, Mzwanele Manyi joined the EFF on Friday.
Speaking at the EFF’s 10th anniversary celebrations in the Western Cape, Malema said:
“We are confident that the numbers are growing and we are not shocked by what Mr Manyi did today by joining the EFF, It is the only organisation that a black self-caring person and self-respecting person will join. He is more than welcome in the EFF and we hope very soon we will welcome Mr President Zuma into the EFF — it’s a home of rehabilitation. Anyone who wants to come they are more than welcome.”
Leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters CIC @Julius_S_Malema hopes President Zuma joins the EFF. The spokesperson for the Zuma Foundation joined the forceful EFF today ???? pic.twitter.com/hF6TJxTGFZ
— Uncle “T-Money” (@tonnygerald) May 5, 2023
Manyi resigned with immediate effect from the African Transformation Movement (ATM) and took to his Twitter account to announce that he had taken up membership with the red berets.
In a letter to the secretary of ATM, Manyi said he believed his career in politics would be assisted by the move.
“After careful thought and consideration, I have decided that I can serve South Africa better in an organisation like the EFF.
“South Africa is fast deteriorating into a failed state. It, therefore, needs a shock treatment from an organisation whose posture is revolutionary.
“The EFF being the third largest party in South Africa and is well poised to take over from the ANC quicker than any other party. The EFF is the real alternative that everyone has been asking about,” he said.
“I have not come to this decision lightly, and I have to hasten to say that I am leaving the ATM peacefully without fighting with anyone,” said Manyi.
Today I join the Revolution Movement, @EFFSouthAfrica as a card carrying member, to make a contribution in freeing South Africa from neo-colonialism; rampant corruption; and to rescue the country from the imminent failed state situation. Aykhale!! pic.twitter.com/aF7krfLsnk
— Mzwanele Manyi (@MzwaneleManyi) May 5, 2023
According to News24, Manyi abandoned the ANC just before the 2019 national elections. At the time, he described the party as fatigued, captured, and having overstayed its welcome.
“Under its leadership, black executives have met their demise while the media has lost its diversity,” the report quoted Manyi as saying during a press briefing introducing him as the ATM’s national executive committee member in charge of the party’s policy and strategy division.
The ANC was Manyi’s political home for about 30 years, and he has spent almost four years as a leader of the ATM, during which time he also served as the spokesperson of the Jacob Zuma Foundation, a position he still holds, the report said.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
