OPINION | Malema’s dictatorship causing EFF's political decline

It’s becoming apparent that the EFF are facing a harsh decline, marked by internal strife, defections, and a shrinking influence.

Once a powerful voice in leftist politics, the EFF is now struggling to maintain relevance and unity in a shifting political landscape. The party’s electoral decline in recent elections has exposed deep cracks, with many of its founding and senior leaders departing, despite having helped shape the party's vision from the beginning.

While many breakaway parties from the ANC have struggled to achieve lasting influence, the EFF initially stood out by maintaining solid electoral support for a decade. However, this era seems to be coming to an end, with the party now overshadowed by the rise of the Mkhonto we Sizwe Party (MKP), a political force under former president Jacob Zuma. The emergence of the MKP has fundamentally altered the left-wing political space in SA, posing a significant challenge to the EFF’s claim to represent this segment of the electorate.

The competition for dominance in the opposition benches has intensified with the arrival of the MKP, which has consolidated its influence on both the opposition and left-wing political fronts. The EFF, once seen as the main challenger to the DA, now faces overwhelming competition from MKP, which appears poised to permanently eclipse Malema’s party.

Adding to the party's woes is its upcoming National People’s Assembly, the EFF’s elective conference. Rather than revitalising the party, this gathering is likely to deepen existing divisions in a political organisation that has shown a limited tolerance for genuine democratic practices.

Democracy should not be confined to leadership elections; it should also include respect for liberty, equality and open opportunity. Given the current dynamics, it’s almost certain that Malema will secure another mandate to lead the party, leaving many of its internal issues unresolved, as he is often cited as a significant part of the problem.

Malema appears unwilling to acknowledge the serious political and organisational challenges the EFF is facing. The grand coalition, the government of national unity has fundamentally reshaped the political environment, and it’s becoming clear that the EFF, along with other parties, will be impacted by this realignment. Malema’s focus, however, remains on preserving his power within the party, often at the cost of sidelining or purging those with differing viewpoints.

The recent public spat between Malema and Kganki Mphahlele, a leader within the EFF’s student wing, exemplifies this trend.

Mphahlele’s eventual expulsion for daring to challenge Malema is a clear message to all party members about the consequences of dissent. This incident revealed much about Malema’s authoritarian tendencies, as he continues to resist differing views within his inner circle.

His history of berating journalists for asking tough questions has further reinforced his intolerance, leading many in the media to handle him cautiously to avoid public verbal attacks.

Notably, senior leaders who are leaving the EFF seem to be doing so with carefully worded statements that avoid direct criticism of Malema. They know too well that a public confrontation with him could lead to retaliatory remarks on major platforms – something they seem keen to avoid, preferring diplomacy over potential conflict.

However, what puzzles me is why these leaders, including Mzwanele Manyi, Floyd Shivambu, Dali Mpofu and Busisiwe Mkhwebane, are not forthright about their reasons for leaving.

They have cited belief in MKP’s potential to achieve what the EFF cannot, but why didn’t they choose to remain in the EFF and advocate for change from within? The answer seems clear: they’ve broken free from the chains of suppression and now seek a space where Malema’s dominance no longer stifles their political freedom.

• Mokgatlhe is a researcher and freelance writer.