THE Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in the Free State has pledged unwavering support for its national leader Julius Malema, even as the party faces a wave of high-profile defections.
This week, former EFF chairperson and advocate Dali Mpofu became the latest prominent figure to leave, joining former president Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party.
Mpofu’s departure follows that of Malema’s deputy Floyd Shivambu, as well as lawmakers Mzwanele Manyi and Busisiwe Mkhwebane, raising questions about the EFF’s stability.
However, Mapheule Liphoko, the EFF Free State chairperson, told The Free Stater that the provincial branch remains unfazed by the defections.
“As EFF Free State, we are really not concerned about the defections,” he said.
“In fact, in the whole province we can count four leaders in Thabo Mofutsanyana that have defected.
“Beyond that, we went on a ‘recruitment and renewal’ process before launching our branches.
“Our organisation is intact and most branches have elected delegates to participate in the national elective assembly. So, we are not worried at all.”
Asked whether the EFF Free State’s commitment to Malema as leader remains strong, despite recent setbacks, Liphoko was emphatic: “Most certainly! We will defend our CIC [commander-in-chief] and president as a leader in advancing our generational mission, at all material times.”
Liphoko downplayed any perceptions of internal divisions within the provincial structures, stressing the importance of collective decision-making.
“We are extremely united, with our differing views on different societal and political matters,” he said.
“As EFF Free State, we embrace these differing views because that’s the reason we arrive at highly scrutinised resolutions.
“This should not be confused as factions or disunity. We remain united behind our national leadership and the banner of economic freedom.”
Led by Malema, the EFF has historically enjoyed significant backing among South Africa’s youth, many of whom are frustrated by the slow pace of economic and social reforms since the end of apartheid in 1994.
However, the party faced a setback during the May general elections.
Instead of climbing from its position as the country’s third-largest party, it fell to fourth, ceding ground to the newly-formed MK, which contested its first election.
In the Free State, however, the EFF secured 13.52 percent of the vote, earning four seats in the provincial legislature.
This stands in contrast to the MK, which garnered only 1.93 percent for a single seat.