Former Economic Freedom Fighters Limpopo chairperson Jossey Buthane. (Photo by Gallo Images / Thapelo Maphakela)
The former Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Limpopo chairperson, Jossey Buthane, who defected to the ANC, asserts that his departure has weakened the Julius Malema-led party by drawing its supporters to the governing party.
In an interview with the Mail & Guardian on Wednesday, Buthane said the EFF is “bleeding support”, which he predicts will negatively affect the party’s performance in the 29 May polls.
A once staunch Malema loyalist, Buthane left the ANC with Malema after his expulsion from the ruling party. He is credited with establishing a robust EFF base in Limpopo.
Buthane claims to have mobilised more than 2 500 EFF members to join the ANC, a move he says was pivotal in reclaiming a ward in Polokwane from the EFF during a recent by-election. Previously dominated by the EFF in three successive by-elections, the ward saw the ANC triumph this time, securing 1 811 votes against the EFF’s 1 474.
“The EFF is bitter and will continue to be bitter because the ANC will dismantle them. I have been instrumental in helping the ruling party get the ward we took from the ANC in 2022 back. The only party that has relevance in the province is the ANC. The EFF has lost its touch and the end of the month [ election day] will prove my point. They are shaking in that province,” Buthane said.
“Even if they [EFF] fill up Peter Mokaba Stadium, we know that they will be calling on all provinces to help them because there is no unity left in the party. We are pulling people daily because their national leadership created the opportunity,” he said.
ANC provincial spokesperson Jimmy Machaka said since Buthane joined the party, they have been signing up new members from the EFF, strengthening the ANC’s prospects.
“The role played by comrade Jossey has been significant and what we have seen on the ground is that EFF is limping in the province,” he said. “The numbers speak for themselves. We have signed more than 1 000 members in Sekhukhune, in Mopani more than 100, in Venda more than 500 and in Peter Mokaba in the Capricorn region we have signed more than 200 members.”
Last month, Malema dismissed Buthane’s claims of mobilising members to join the ANC, branding them as propaganda. He said that those who defected with Buthane were former EFF councillors who had been expelled for failing to provide buses for the party’s 10th anniversary rally last year. The EFF had expelled 62 members, including three from Limpopo.
Malema’s This decision led to the loss of some prominent members, including KwaZulu-Natal provincial chairperson Vusi Khoza.
Despite internal divisions, Malema is aiming to position the EFF as the official opposition by unseating the Democratic Alliance in the national elections. The party will hold its final rally at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on 25 May.
The EFF’s performance in Limpopo has seen varying levels of support over the years. The party, which is the leading opposition in the province, increased its voter share from 10.74% in 2014 to 14.3% in 2019.
Tensions between Malema and Buthane were evident when the EFF disbanded its Limpopo provincial leadership in 2022, citing an electoral decline that saw the party lose 25 council seats and thousands of votes. At the time, Malema expressed deep dissatisfaction with the performance, signalling internal discord that culminated in Buthane’s defection.