Kganki Mphahlele, a former member of the Economic Freedom Fighters Student Command (EFFSC), who was on Thursday expelled from the party following a heated online exchange with EFF leader Julius Malema, says he wont be silenced or expected to submit.
As previously reported by IOL, the expulsion reportedly stems from Mphahlele’s outspoken criticism of the party's leadership, specifically over the anticipated selection of the next deputy president within the EFF ranks.
The disagreement surfaced on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), where Mphahlele voiced his opposition to Malema’s apparent endorsement of Godrich Gardee for the position.
"CIC Julius Malema is not an NPA (National People’s Assembly) super delegate; he must not dare try to impose Godrich Garde as the EFF Deputy President,” Mphahlele stated.
He went on to insist that EFF branches favoured Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi for the role, emphasising, “Julius and all his deployees must not dare start a war with branches; war is a very difficult thing.”
The exchange escalated when Malema responded with a brief, but pointed “Try me boys”, which Mphahlele interpreted as a direct challenge.
Mphahlele said he took that response as a manner of them being silenced and he felt this gave them two choices: “to submit to the will of God or fight. We’re not going to submit we fought,” Mphahlele said.
In an interview on Newzroom Afrika, Mphahlele elaborated on his grievances. According to him, the National People’s Assembly guidelines, he noted, discourage public displays of favouritism and direct campaigning by members on social media to avoid creating internal divisions.
However, he claims these guidelines were violated when senior members publicly endorsed Gardee’s candidacy.
Mphahlele explained his perspective, “What made me write these words is the fact that the NPA guidelines were very clear, comrades go and campaign in branches; avoid this thing of campaigning on social media.”
He expressed frustration over what he described as Malema’s tacit endorsement of Gardee, highlighting a perceived double standard.
“The problem we had is that the Commander-in-Chief is retweeting all these posts and we see that as an endorsement,” Mphahlele said.
Following his remarks, Mphahlele received an expulsion letter from the EFFSC, which cited he was “putting the organisation into disrepute” and “defining himself outside the organisation”.
Reflecting on his dismissal, Mphahlele remarked, “I would say the EFF is trying to put out a situation where they say all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others.
“It’s obvious the Commander-in-Chief is going to get a third term uncontested. I’m not going to appeal for those reasons because it’s clear I’m not welcome.”
Although he has chosen not to appeal, Mphahlele stated that he had been approached by various political parties, including the African National Congress (ANC), South African Communist Party (SACP), and Umkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), but firmly ruled out any future with the Democratic Alliance (DA), remarking, “The DA is a no-go area; we’d be selling out the revolution if we went to the DA”.
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