Jump now, Malema tells Shivambu’s loyalists
and |Published
EFF leader Julius Malema has drawn a line in the sand directing members loyal to the party’s former deputy leader, Floyd Shivambu, to follow in his footsteps and leave the organisation immediately.
Addressing the Gauteng EFF provincial gathering at Orlando Community Hall in Soweto last night, Malema said he felt betrayed and all the responsibilities assigned to Shivambu’s office as the deputy leader will now fall under him.
His address came days after Shivambu, who co-founded the EFF, ditched it for Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe Party.
Malema came out guns blazing at his members who silently wanted to betray and use the EFF for what he termed as “greener pastures.”
“Leave now so that we can know how many soldiers we have in this struggle to liberate us.
“You must leave today because nothing is going to change between now and December, nothing is going to change now and the future.
“Leave now. We have no reason to beg anyone. If you want to leave, leave now and leave us alone. Even if we are alone we will always continue to speak truth to power.
“It’s very painful to count the soldiers you don’t have,” he said.
Shivambu’s exit last week was reportedly linked to an alleged rift between him and Malema over his leadership style. There has been growing speculation that Malema and Shivambu were politically sparring behind the scenes over a litany of issues, including that Malema’s preferred choice for deputy president was Marshall Dlamini, the current secretary-general, as the party prepared for an elective conference in December.
The fallout between Malema and Shivambu has been building for at least two years, with some members pushing for Shivambu to replace Malema as party president. Reports also emerged that Malema had apparently attempted to secure a deputy president post during the negotiations to form the Government of National Unity with the ANC while Shivambu and others were still in talks with other parties.
Malema disputed this last night, saying he was not interested in forming part of a coalition that consisted of the DA and Freedom Front Plus.
He also announced that the party’s Sinawo Tambo and Nazier Paulsen will replace Shivambu and Mzwanele Manyi, who also left the EFF for Zuma’s party, while Dlamini will assume the responsibility of chief whip in Parliament.
“We are in a fight now,” he said. He further thanked the ground forces who were present at his address for being loyal. We salute you, the loyal, brave, and dedicated ground forces of the EFF, to whom this organisation of the poor and dejected masses of our people belongs. We salute you, the true revolutionaries, who have dedicated your lives, your sweat, and your blood to the liberation of our people, and have sworn never to betray the generational mission of freedom, in favour of personal advancement,” he said.
Malema committed to carrying the EFF and ensuring that the movement continued to deliver on its mandate.
Political analyst Professor Sipho Seepe said: “The cracks in the EFF have been building between Malema and Shivambu for some years. However, they have been able to quell growing tension.
It is now an open war between those who support Malema and those backing Shivambu.”
Like Malema, Seepe said this was a testing time for the EFF and personally for Malema.
“Malema will have to show his leadership skills and move the EFF forward. Internally, the party has a lot to do”
Cape Times