EFF leader Julius Malema has publicly and definitively closed any possibility of former deputy president Floyd Shivambu rejoining the party, ending months of speculation about a potential reconciliation. The decisive statement came in response to a direct Twitter question from user Zizipho, who referenced Malema’s previous openness to Shivambu’s return under certain conditions.
When asked if the offer still stood, Malema responded tersely: “Thobela Zizipho. The CCT and the National Assembly rejected the offer. Ndaa.” This reference to the EFF’s Central Command Team and National Assembly – the party’s highest decision-making bodies – confirms the leadership’s unified stance against Shivambu’s reinstatement.
Political analysts suggest this public closure of the matter indicates the EFF is prioritizing internal cohesion over personal loyalties. While the party has maintained its characteristic unity under Malema’s leadership, this definitive break with Shivambu – once considered indispensable to the EFF’s rise – marks a significant chapter in the organization’s evolution.
Neither Shivambu nor his supporters have yet responded to Malema’s statement, leaving unanswered questions about whether this development will prompt new political alignments outside the EFF. The party, however, appears to have drawn a firm line under the matter as it prepares for upcoming electoral battles.
