Julius Malema says he has no relationship with Jacob Zuma
It appears that the possibility of a further relationship between Julius Malema and Jacob Zuma has been firmly dismissed, as the EFF leader stated that he has no relationship with the former president.
This follows the high-profile tea meeting held at Zuma’s Nkandla homestead in 2021, which seems unlikely to lead to any further political collaboration.
The two leaders have been at odds since the May 29 national and provincial elections, in which Zuma’s newly formed MK Party (MKP) achieved surprising results.
The MKP’s success pushed the EFF down to fourth place, with several EFF members now defecting to Zuma’s party. Key former EFF figures, including Floyd Shivambu, Busisiwe Mkhwebane, and Dali Mpofu, have left the EFF to join MKP.
In less than a year, MKP has become the third-largest political party in the country. Speaking at President Duma Boko’s inauguration in Botswana on Friday, Malema addressed questions about his current relationship with Zuma, amid reports of high-ranking EFF leaders switching to MKP.
“I don’t have any relationship with President Zuma. We are political contenders. He is the leader of a political party, and I am the leader of a political party. That’s where our relationship starts and ends,” Malema said. “Where we agree on issues, we will share a common perspective, where we disagree, we will disagree respectfully.”
Malema reassured the media that the EFF remains strong despite the current turbulence.
“You cannot destroy that which you have not built. It can’t fall apart. It’s our own child, it’s our baby, and we will decide what we do with it. The EFF is the future, and it cannot be destabilised by opportunism,” he added.
He further emphasised that despite the challenges, the EFF would continue to participate in important events, such as the Botswana presidential inauguration.
The EFF is now gearing up for its upcoming elective conference next month, as it looks to solidify its position in South Africa’s political landscape.
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