Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has dismissed the African Radical Economic Transformation Alliance (MKP) as a “Bantustan party,” accusing it of undermining efforts to achieve economic freedom in South Africa.
Speaking at a recent event, Malema alleged that MKP’s existence is a deliberate strategy to fragment and weaken transformative movements like the EFF. “MKP is like a Bantustan party. It exists to destroy parties that are fighting for economic freedom,” he said, drawing parallels to the apartheid-era tactic of fostering political divisions to suppress anti-oppression movements.
Malema also addressed the controversy surrounding Thembinkosi Rawula, a former EFF member who left the party in 2019 amid allegations and public disputes. Rawula had accused Malema and EFF Deputy President Floyd Shivambu of misappropriating funds from the defunct VBS Mutual Bank—claims the EFF leadership has consistently denied.
According to Malema, Rawula’s recent attempts to rejoin the party have been firmly rejected. “He is now begging to come back to the EFF after saying I stole VBS money. I told him that once you check out, you are gone,” Malema stated, reinforcing the EFF’s strict stance on loyalty and accountability.
Rawula’s allegations once sparked intense scrutiny of the EFF, but the party maintained that the claims were politically motivated and without merit. Malema’s recent remarks underline the EFF’s zero-tolerance approach to dissent, particularly from former members perceived as damaging the party’s reputation.
As the 2024 elections approach, Malema has sharpened his rhetoric against both internal and external forces he believes are working to destabilize the EFF’s mission. Despite criticism from rival parties and former allies, the EFF continues to position itself as a champion of economic justice and radical transformation in South Africa.
