Advocate Dali Mpofu. [Picture: City Press/News24]
Advocate Dali Mpofu is the latest senior figure to ditch the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) for uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP). The decision was not personal, he insisted, but party leader Julius Malema slammed those seeking fame.
Mpofu served as the EFF’s national chairperson between 2014 and 2019. He announced his departure in an interview with SABC News on Thursday.
“After a lot of soul-searching, I have taken a decision that I will be joining the MK party. I am joining the party because I believe it is the vehicle to achieve the much-needed black and progressive unity,” he said.
Shortly thereafter, Malema hit back. He posted on X: “They sing beautifully and are always willing to pose for pictures and sign roll calls, but remember, their souls are long gone. To prevent any potential hurt, it’s crucial to heed the guidance of the leadership.”
Professor André Duvenhage, political analyst and research director at the North-West University (NWU), told Salaamedia that the EFF was a dying party. “The EFF is falling apart as a political party,” he commented, adding that Malema was “becoming a subtext” in media coverage.
He pointed to the party’s poor performance in the May elections and an exodus of members since then. “It is as if the MK Party has killed his political space.”
As for Mpofu, he suggested, it was likely that Jacob Zuma would appoint him as the next secretary-general of the MK Party. Dr Sifiso Zwane vacated the position yesterday.
“I won’t be surprised if he is going to get a very senior position. Don’t be surprised if he is becoming the new secretary-general of the MK Party. We have seen the current secretary-general resign after four months – clearly there is strategy behind it.”
Mpofu joins Floyd Shivambu, Busisiwe Mkhwebane and several other prominent former EFF members who crossed over to Zuma’s party in recent months.
