Mbuyiseni Ndlozi. (File photo)
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has removed several members of its provincial command teams from deployment for violating the party’s pre-conference regulations after they publicly endorsed factional slates calling for Mbuyiseni Ndlozi’s elevation to the deputy president position.
The party is due to gather at Nasrec in Gauteng next week to elect its leaders for the next five years.
The removals are part of a strategy by party president Julius Malema and other leaders to curb factionalism, consolidate power and ensure unity within the EFF as it prepares for future electoral contests, including the 2026 local government vote.
Those removed from deployment included Esther Molepo, a member of the Mpumalanga provincial command team; Alfred Motsi from North West, who has since resigned; and Thabo Ndlovu, a regional member in KwaZulu-Natal.
They have been accused of publicly supporting Ndlozi in a manner perceived to undermine the party’s unity.
A letter from the EFF dated 6 November states that their actions were in direct violation of the party’s internal guidelines, which prohibit members from engaging in factional activities, particularly through social media platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp.
“It has come to our attention as the organisation that you went on Facebook and contradicted the 3rd NPA (national people’s assembly) guidelines and divided the subregion of Victor Khanye,” the letter said.
The members have been barred from attending the elective conference and serving in their roles in the provincial command for breaking these rules, pending disciplinary action.
Molapo did not respond to calls or questions from the Mail & Guardian, while Motsi and Ndlovu declined to comment.
The EFF’s pre-conference regulations state that any form of public endorsement for leadership candidates — such as Ndlozi — would be seen as a violation of party rules.
The leadership has warned that the party cannot afford to tolerate divisive behaviour as it heads toward next week’s crucial elective assembly, which will have implications not only for the EFF’s internal structures, but also for its political future.
During a provincial conference in Limpopo last month, Malema called for unity and loyalty to the party, saying the success of the EFF was predicated on its ability to remain united and focused on its core mission of economic justice.
“Any attempt to disrupt the unity of the EFF will not be tolerated,” Malema said, adding that factionalism was a direct threat to the party achieving its goals.
The EFF is still recovering from the departure of key members who have joined Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party. These include former deputy president Floyd Shivambu, Busisiwe Mkhwebane and Dali Mpofu.
The defections came in the wake of the EFF’s national support dipping to 9.52% in 29 May general elections from 10.7% in 2019. Adding insult to injury, the EFF was overtaken by newcomers the MK party as the third-largest party in the country.
The debate over who should take over the deputy position at the conference caused tension between the party’s leadership,which is rooting for Godrich Gardee, and Ndlozi’s supporters.
Ndlozi’s backers view him as fresh blood who could bring new energy and leadership to the party, appealing to a broader demographic, beyond the traditional EFF base.
But he has pulled out of the race after a fraught three months during which supporters and critics urged him to make clear whether or not he was also leaving the party.
A senior source close to the leadership said as many as 10 letters had been sent to members in various parts of the country who had contravened pre-conference regulations.
“The secretary general’s office has written over 10 letters to members who attacked other leaders and created groups telling members that this slate was from the leadership.
“No such slate has been communicated to branches,” they said.
“Now, remember they are all allowed to lobby, but it has to be in a respectful manner, and they must not lie that they got instructions from us, because that is lying to branches, for their own gain, in the name of campaigning.”
The M&G has seen three of these letters.
While lobbying is being tolerated, factionalism is expected to be put to bed during the conference. Ahead of it, the EFF has acknowledged in discussion documents it is grappling with internal divisions, with competing factions often operating as semi-independent units.
The discussion documents have warned that such disunity could undermine the party’s ability to present a unified front, particularly in the lead-up to the 2026 elections.
EFF secretary general Marshall Dlamini said the conference would provide an opportunity to rebuild its structures after the problems the party had faced this year.
“We’re going to be guided by the National Assembly that is going to give us a programme of action for the next five years, which will talk about the 2026 local elections including the 2029 national election,” he said.
After the initial publication of this article, EFF spokesperson Leigh-Ann Mathys responded via WhatsApp message, saying that members had been “removed from their deployment” and not suspended.
Mathys accused the M&G of peddling disinformation about the party.
“You wrote about ‘letters’ with no proof that the letters are legitimate. It is not the first time that letters, even media statements are photoshopped and circulated,” she said.
“The provincial chairs and secretaries from both Mpumalanga and North West have stated that they did not even have a conversation with anyone from M&G yet alone provide confirmation that the letters are legitimate.”
“You specifically stated that the provincial chairpersons confirmed. We went as far as asking the provincial secretaries as well. I asked for the names of the provincial chairs in the event that you spoke to wrong people,” she said.
“And If that is the case, then whoever gave you confirmation has no authority to do so – meaning that M&G spreading propaganda,” Mathys said.
“We will consider our options in dealing with this disinformation from M&G,” she said.
This article has been amended to reflect comment from the EFF that arrived after publication which indicated that the members were ‘removed from deployment’, not suspended.