The Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema said this a testing time for the party, following the resignation of the party's deputy president. Malema was addressing the media after Floyd Shivambu announced that he was leaving the party for uMkhonto weSizwe Party today.

A TESTING TIME FOR EFF

Malema said the EFF, which turned 10 last year, has never been through a testing moment like this. "This is a testing moment. An organisation that has lived beyond 10 years has never been through this. The EFF will have to pass this test," Malema said. He also warned the red berets on the ground to prepare for more people to follow Shivambu. "This should not serve as a point of collapse for the EFF. This is not the end; it's the beginning of a journey because we have turned 10 years old and a new chapter for the EFF," he added. Shivambu announced today that he was not going to renew his membership with the EFF and that he was joining Jacob Zuma's uMkhonto weSizwe Party. Shivambu handed his resignation letter to the EFF leadership last night. "This is a political decision that does not affect our friendship. People don't know that I was driving all the way from Polokwane to Floyd's house. Even this morning, we were together and we had breakfast together," he said.

NOT GOING ANYWHERE

Malema added that there will be no appointment of a deputy president because they have an elective conference in December. "If we appoint someone now, that will cause unnecessary tensions within the party," he said. Malema also said that Shivambu leaving the party for MK Party came as a surprise to him. "It was unexpected and came as a shock to some of us. Politics are unpredictable," he said. He also reassured his members that he would never leave the party. "I want to reassure the ground forces of the EFF, the loyal, hard-working, disciplined ground forces of the EFF, I am with you, and I will never turn my back against this organisation. My coffin will be draped with the flag of the EFF. I will remain a loyal and disciplined member of the EFF, even if I remain alone."