EFF leader Julius Malema said he felt a sense of relief when his former deputy Floyd Shivambu left the party last month. Malema said this during an interview with Clement Manyathela on the SABC's Face the Nation show last night. Shivambu, who has been with the party since its formation eleven years ago, resigned from the EFF to join Jacob Zuma's MK Party as its national organiser.
DOING FINE WITHOUT HIM
Malema said although Shivambu's departure was painful, he felt like he had put down a heavy load. "I don't know why, but it is not always that bad things will always produce bad results. Perhaps at times they do produce very good results," he said. He added: "I am doing very well. The leadership of the EFF remains intact. We are fine. We are rocking." Malema reiterated that he no longer has any kind of relationship with him. "I don't have a relationship with him. What brought us together was a common purpose. We met in the trenches. We didn't meet at university, club or church. What brought us together was sharing the common agenda for the revolution; once we see things differently, there is no need for a relationship between us," he said. He added that the party was doing much better without Shivambu, as nothing of the EFF depended on his existence.
LEADERSHIP DON'T WANT HIM BACK
Asked why he offered Shivambu to come back to the party even when that was against the organisation's constitution, Malema told Clement that he said that to demonstrate that he has nothing against his former deputy. "I said that to show that I have nothing against the guy. Even if he calls me tomorrow, I will show up. But we are all governed by the constitution of the party," said Malema. According to the red berets leader, the leadership of the party made it clear that they will not take Shivambu back if she wishes to return, as that is against their constitution. He said after the press conference to announce Shivambu's departure, the leadership sat him down to say they heard what he said but that the constitution of this organisation will still apply to him. Malema also said that he knows there are those who will follow Shivambu to the MK Party and they are watching them.
"They speak very bad of the organisation and plotting against the leadership. What is holding them is the upcoming elective conference. They want to blackmail us into electing them, and if we don't they are going to leave. But they are long gone. This is just a season that will pass. You must not be overwhelmed by a season. It is like those people who spend all their money on Christmas day."
