Mbuyiseni Ndlozi has confirmed his resignation from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), ending a political career that spanned over a decade.
Mbuyiseni Ndlozi officially resigns from EFF
In an exclusive interview with the SABC, Ndlozi revealed that he was suspended six weeks before the party’s National People’s Assembly (NPA) in December 2024.
He stated that the allegations leading to his suspension included claims that he was working with former president Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), which he strongly denied.
“I was told to stay, cease my participation in Parliament and the rest of the EFF,” Ndlozi said.
Addressing speculation about his ties to MKP, Ndlozi dismissed the claims as false.
“I can state categorically now that I never planned to join the MKP. I still don’t. I never worked with anyone in the MKP in relation to some conspiracy about my departure,” he asserted.
Ndlozi also spoke about what he described as a strategic miscalculation by the EFF in engaging with Zuma and MKP, which he believes contributed to the party’s performance in the 2024 general elections.
“It’s now a matter of public record that our leadership has been engaged with [former] president [Jacob Zuma] as well as the MKP for a very long time. My count is that it has been the last three to four years,” he explained.
His resignation comes after a period of growing tensions within the party.
In August 2024, EFF leader Julius Malema made personal remarks about Ndlozi and his family during a speech in Soweto. However, Ndlozi said he did not view these as political attacks but as an indication that he should pursue new opportunities.
By November, reports surfaced that Ndlozi was barred from attending the party’s conference. At the time, Malema told journalists that the EFF would no longer comment on the matter.
What is his next career move?
Ndlozi has ruled out joining another political party, stating that his departure from the EFF also signals his exit from party politics entirely. Instead, he suggested that his future endeavours would focus on political education and activism.
“I am leaving party politics. I think I’ve made my contribution in that space. We don’t live in a one-party state. We are not in the camps, we’re not banned. Politics are a free activity in South Africa, and party politics are not the monopoly of making social contribution,” he said.
Although he did not disclose specific plans, Ndlozi indicated that his next move would involve building an advocacy group for black South Africans, drawing comparisons to the work of AfriForum, an organisation known for lobbying on behalf of Afrikaner interests.
“It’s time somebody did for the people of this country, what Afriforum is doing for the Afrikaners,” Ndlozi emphasised.
He also referenced the departure of former EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu, clarifying that he had been aware of Shivambu’s exit plans but did not see it as his role to inform party leadership.
While no official organisation has been linked to Ndlozi’s next steps, his emphasis on political activism suggests he may soon launch an initiative focused on policy advocacy and community mobilisation.
