The conflict between the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and its former deputy president, Floyd Shivambu, shows no signs of easing. Despite resigning from the party on August 15, Shivambu continues to clash with EFF members, particularly whenever a prominent politician leaves the party to join Jacob Zuma’s MK Party.
Tensions flared again when EFF MP Sinawo Tambo criticized advocate Dali Mpofu’s statements upon his departure from the EFF. Tambo highlighted Mpofu’s comments, calling them a “posture of individualism.”
In a recent interview with the SABC, Mpofu explained his decision to join the MK Party, stating, “There was a time when former President Zuma and I were the only ones who knew about the project to form the MK Party. We discussed this after the 2022 ANC conference, and after 12 months of consideration, I decided to join the MK Party.”
Mpofu’s involvement in forming the MK Party came while he still held a senior leadership role in the EFF.
Tambo responded by addressing the growing trend of party leaders who seem divided in their loyalties, criticizing their “individualism, triumphalism, and undermining behavior.” He added, “These actions are not against the EFF, but time will reveal their true impact.”
Shivambu, in turn, retaliated by threatening to release Tambo’s resignation letter from the EFF, asking, “Should we publish your signed resignation letter from the EFF’s Central Command Team and Parliament? Do you want to cry again?”
Tambo, unfazed by the threats, issued a counter-challenge. “Release those letters if they exist, don’t delay. You attempted this with Sihle Lonzi [EFF Student Command president] and failed. I have screenshots of your drunken 2 a.m. threats before you deleted them. If you proceed, we’ll release the text messages between you and Johann Rupert, and the videos that led to your divorce.”
Shivambu has been critical of businessman Johann Rupert since the EFF’s formation. Although tabloids have long speculated about Shivambu’s troubled marriage to Siphesihle Pezi, the couple has mostly stayed out of the public eye.
Tambo further accused Shivambu of resorting to intimidation when challenged by younger EFF members. He remarked, “When faced with political defeat from the youth, he resorts to threats. We question the sincerity and ideological integrity of those joining parties they fundamentally oppose, and they respond with threats. He threatened President Sihle Lonzi and disappeared when confronted. He’s now threatening us, but when we fight back, he retreats.”
Tambo added, “We can engage in the gutter politics he relies on, but we choose not to. His threats expose the hypocrisy behind the so-called politics of respect and humility. We must not shy away from questioning wrong politics, regardless of the intimidation. Our commitment is to fight.”
The escalating exchange underscores the ongoing friction within the EFF and the challenges the party faces in retaining its leadership amid defections to the MK Party.