EFF leader Julius Malema has issued a stern warning to his party’s members about growing infiltration and division within the movement, alleging that "double agents" are working to destabilize the party ahead of its third National People's Assembly in December. The Assembly, set to elect new leadership, comes amid a turbulent period for the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), with defections and internal conflicts raising concerns about the party’s future cohesion.
Addressing delegates at the Gauteng Provincial General Assembly on Sunday, Malema reflected on recent high-profile departures from the EFF, including his former deputy president Floyd Shivambu, ex-national chairperson Dali Mpofu, and MPs Mzwanele Manyi and Busisiwe Mkhwebane. All have joined the newly formed MK Party, led by former President Jacob Zuma, which poses a significant challenge to the EFF’s influence.
Malema attributed these defections and the current turmoil to dangerous levels of infiltration, which he suggested began with the party's founders. He emphasized that infiltration goes beyond easily identifiable sabotage, warning that it often starts with the compromise of core principles for personal gain.
“This challenge we have faced… can only be characterised as infiltration,” Malema said. “It manifests itself when ideas and principles are sacrificed at the altar of self-interest, disguised as being in the best interests of the movement. This was not just sabotage for election purposes, but an ideological infiltration and political degeneration."
Malema further described the resignations of senior members as an "assassination attempt" on the EFF, urging delegates to recognize this as an attack on the party’s mission during a critical time in its struggle for liberation. “Perhaps we should be thankful that those who chose to desert us did so instead of destroying us outright,” he remarked.
Looking ahead to the December conference, Malema called on delegates to reflect on the infiltration within the party and to resist attempts to individualize the movement’s mission. He warned that any behavior that fuels division or undermines the party’s integrity would not be tolerated.
“If you remain silent when your name is used to divide the organization, you shall be disqualified from contesting any position,” Malema declared. “Stand up and say, not in my name, if wrong is done in your name.”
With the EFF facing significant internal challenges, Malema urged members to stay focused and loyal, even if they are not elected to leadership positions. Loyalty to the party, he explained, means remaining committed to the organization and refusing to align with opposition forces or participate in unfair criticism of the party’s leadership.
The upcoming conference, scheduled for December 12-15 at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg, will be a pivotal moment for the EFF as it seeks to navigate these internal conflicts and emerge united in its vision for the future.