The battle lines have been drawn between the EFF and the Umkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP).
This comes after the EFF Secretary General Marshall Dlamini has confirmed that the party will not attend the MK Party Anniversary in Durban this weekend.
Dlamini stated that while they saw the invite in the media, he did not personally receive the invitation from MK Party leader Jacob Zuma.
On Wednesday, Secretary-General Floyd Shivhambu briefed journalists in Durban on the party's readiness and indicated that all invited parties, including the EFF, ATM and other Progressive Caucus parties will be given a platform to convey messages of support.
On Thursday, the MK Party which has been accused by the EFF leadership of pouching its leaders and members had wished the red berets well on their elective conference currently under way at the Nasrec Conference Centre in Soweto, just days before the MKP was to celebrate its one year anniversary on June 16.
“The uMkhonto weSizwe Party would like to extend its well wishes to the EFF, its leadership and members of the party nationally. The EFF, a member of the Progressive Caucus, will be holding its third national People’s Assembly on the 12-15 December 2024. We commend the consistency and staying power of the EFF who have been in existence for 11 years.
“As the Progressive Caucus, we stand united in dismantling the imperial system and we will continue to fight for the reclamation of our dignity, land, mineral resources and the nationalisation of mines,” party spokesperson, Nhlamulo Ndhlela said in a statement on Thursday.
However, while addressing the media on Thursday, EFF secretary general, Marshall Dlamini indicated that the EFF was yet to receive a formal invite to the celebrations.
“I do not have a letter from the MKP President, so they put it in the media. We are not going to the rally of the MK Party....We are an organisation that believes in the constitution of the country and our democracy. We should not be confused with the MK Party. That is why everything else that we do is for the interests of the people of South Africa,” he said.
Meanwhile speculation is rife as to who will emerge as part of the party’s Top 5 structure.
However, one thing is clear, EFF leader Julius Malema is set to retain his position unchallenged, while the rest of the other positions will be hotly contested with such names as Marshall Dlamini who according to insiders is being prepared to replace former Deputy President Floyd Shivambu who defected to the MKP, causing a big rift between the two parties.
Speaking to Newsroom Afrika on Thursday, EFF Gauteng provincial chairperson Nkululeko Dunga revealed that the province will be backing party leader Julius Malema for another term as president.
Dunga without wanting to reveal the party’s nomination process said the party will emerge with a new set of leaders once the conference is over.
“Whichever way you look at it, the EFF will emerge with anew set of leaders. We are going to dissolve the current central command structures during plenary at the conference. We will then go through the process of electing new leadership that will emerge. As to whether those who serve in certain positions are retained or not, that will be plenary that will decide,” he said.
The Star