WATCH | 'We are doing much better without him' - Malema on EFF after Shivambu's exit

Cape Town — Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader, Julius Malema, discussed the future of his party and said it was doing much better since the departure of Floyd Shivambu.

In an interview with Clement Manyathela on SABC News’ Face The Nation, Malema said the current leadership of the party is as strong as ever.

“The leadership of the EFF remains strong. Although his departure was painful, I got some sense of relief. It was as if I put down some heavy load. It’s not always that bad things will always produce bad results but we are doing fine, we’re rocking,” Malema said.

He also confirmed that his relationship with Floyd was now officially over as the two no longer shared the bond that brought them together.

“I have nothing to do with him. What brought us together was a common purpose. We met in the trenches, not in a club, or church, or fall in love in a university class,” said Malema.

“What brought us together was sharing the common agenda for the revolution, and once we start seeing things differently, what brought us together no longer exists. There is no need for me to be having any kind of relationship,” Malema added.

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The EFF’s CIC @Julius_S_Malema in conversation with Clement Manyathela on SABC News Face the Nation, on Floyd Shivambu’s exit and how the EFF is moving forward with our mandate, unshaken.#CICOnFaceTheNation pic.twitter.com/Ys2a1J7vOJ

— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) September 18, 2024

He added that the party’s intentions following Shivambu’s exit were to move forward but said that, whether he was speaking in a press conference or an interview, the message remained the same.

“I said to you at the press conference that I wouldn’t have expected that from a brother. And once I say that.. a word for that is betrayal. So, whether I put it in that way or this way, it’s the same. But it’s water under the bridge now. Nothing of us depends on his existence. No, no, no. We are doing much better now without him,” Malema said.

When asked whether the door was still open for Shivambu to return to the party in the future, Malema gave an emphatic no and he offered to show no sign of a grudge.

“That was me saying I have nothing against this guy. Even if he calls on me tomorrow, I’ll show up because I will not have any hangovers about it. But we are governed by the EFF constitution, which states that if you leave the party, you’re not allowed to come back,” said Malema.

He said the EFF CCT held a meeting where they explained that Malema and Shivambu can settle their differences outside of the party, but not within the EFF constitution.

“The constitution of this organisation applies, and I ought to respect that because I expressed my views and the leadership said ‘hell no’,” he concluded.

WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW BELOW (SABC NEWS)