EFF leader Julius Malema. Photo by Delwyn Verasamy/M&G
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have more than the Free State to worry about as provincial leaders from Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal have also expressed concern about members being courted by opposition parties as they prepare for next year’s elections.
Addressing the red berets in the Free State last week, EFF leader Julius Malema declared that he remained undeterred by the predicted departure of members to the newly established African Congress for Transformation (ACT), which is led by former ANC secretary general Ace Magashule.
“When they say a person has left the EFF, I never get shocked or demoralised because I knew when we formed this organisation that [some] are going to fall by the wayside and others are going to sell us out on the way.
“Many in the Free State are on their way out to the party of Ace Magashule and they think we are not aware,” Malema said.
Attempts to contact Magashule for comment were unsuccessful.
Provincial leaders from Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal told the Mail & Guardian this week that they had seen a number of members working with other parties, particularly the ANC, Inkatha Freedom Party and ACT in the regions.
A provincial leader in Limpopo lamented that the election campaigning by parties in the province had exposed “the rot” among its members as the party prepared for next year’s elections.
“Members we had trusted are helping the same ANC we are trying to get out of power.
“They have been enticed by alcohol and food parcels offered by the ANC, which is defeating the purpose, because when voters see them mingling with the ANC, they fuel confusion about who to vote for,” the leader said.
Another EFF leader in Limpopo, who also lamented members being enticed by booze and food, said the actions of the members were “concerning” because the party, particularly provincially, sought to gain more votes to prevent history from repeating itself, when the national leadership was forced to dissolve the Limpopo leadership after the dismal election results in 2019.
“This is the main concern we have now. We are fighting to do better than all the previous elections we have [taken part in] …
“Ours is to win a majority in the province and take the crucial positions. We are not deterred,” the leader added.
Limpopo looks set to be a critical province for the EFF next year, as it is allegedly planning to take advantage of ANC members’ displeasure around the governing party’s alleged meddling with the affairs of the provincial list committee (PLC) to drive factional interests ahead of the elections.
“What we don’t have in the province yet, but expect to see during the party’s elective conference, is factions. We will capitalise on the ANC’s weakness of people fighting for positions at a critical time when we are looking to serve our people.
“The voters will surely see which party has their best interests at heart, which is the EFF,” another provincial leader said.
The leader added that although they had noticed the “worrying trend” of EFF members being enticed by other parties, they were working to win over aggrieved members of the Radical Economic Transformation Movement (Retmo), founded by expelled ANC member Carl Niehaus.
“It’s a win-lose situation. When we lose members, we gain new members neglected by the ANC to serve fully with dedication.
“We are in talks with strong RET members who want to join us. We know they will advance the mandate of the EFF,” the leader said.
ANC Limpopo spokesperson Jimmy Machaka denied the party was involved in poaching members from opposition parties.
“The ANC is not poaching any members from other parties, particularly [the EFF and ACT]. However, we will welcome any of their members who are prepared to come to the ANC family,” he said.
He added that a former EFF councillor from Polokwane municipality had joined the ANC, which was a “welcomed” move.
In KwaZulu-Natal, one leader said the departure of former provincial leader Vusi Khoza has “rattled” members who had supported him.
Khoza was expelled from the party, and more than 60 leaders suspended, after they failed to secure buses for their constituents to attend the EFF 10th anniversary celebrations at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg in July.
Khoza joined the Shembe-church affiliated Afrika Unite Congress in KZN, a move some EFF leaders have said has the potential to destabilise provincial numbers.
“One thing we know is that Khoza is a hard worker. We saw what he did for the EFF as a provincial leader — he is capable — and we have already seen scores of his followers that he gained in the EFF behind him.
“We do not underestimate him but we are also working very hard to ensure that the EFF does not decline in elections,” the leader said.
EFF provincial chairperson Mongezi Twala said KwaZulu-Natal was ahead in its quest to achieve 800 000 membership registrations.
Before the 2021 local government vote, the EFF had 59 councillors in KwaZulu-Natal. After the poll, the party had 150.
Malema said at the Free State meeting last week, for the first time, the ANC faced the prospect of losing power next year.
He also said the EFF had the potential to win the Free State next year.
He emphasised that analysts acknowledged the likelihood of the ANC receiving less than 40% of the vote in the province.
“If given power”, he said, he expected “EFF leaders to demonstrate the capacity of the party”.
He told the same crowd there were replacements for errant members.
“When they leave, replacing them will not take more than 24 hours. The organisation’s work will continue in the Free State, with or without them, because they will never hold our organisation at ransom.”
He also called out party members who were socialising with Free State MEC Ketso “Toto” Makume.
“You all get drunk with ANC public representatives with the state’s money. Just know that when you drink alcohol with Toto in Metsimaholo, braaing meat with him, that is money that was meant to buy ventilating machines in hospitals.”