As the exodus of politicians from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) seemingly continues, Anthony Matumba, an EFF member believes he has an explanation for this flight of political heavyweights.
The first domino to fall was Floyd Shivambu, the party’s former national organiser and deputy president who joined Umkhonto weSizwe (MK Party). In a post on X (Twitter), Matumba placed Shivambu in the camp of political careerists.
However, Matumba said there are three categories under which those who left the EFF fall, with bitter opportunists being the first.
“We have three categories of people who are leaving the EFF to join the MK Party. The first category is bitter opportunists who suffer from entitlement issues. They think that the EFF owes them deployment in Parliament or council. They are leaving the EFF because they did not get positions in Parliament after elections,” he wrote.
Matumba said political careerists who have unrestrained aspirations to reach the top follow.
He listed Shivambu, Mzwanele Manyi and ‘possibly’ former Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane in this cluster.
Mkhwebane announced her departure from the red party on Wednesday.
“Today, I am saying goodbye to you, Fighters. After careful consideration and talking to my family, they advised and felt I needed to go away. Spend time with them, rest, and continue to fight for the vulnerable where possible,” she said in a letter.
She went on to say that the consistent support from EFF members has been a light of hope, for which she is sincerely thankful.
Matumba said: “What you must know about careerists is that they have good positions and deployment in the EFF but they think it is not enough. They want something big in their political career. That is why the MK Party is giving them offers like soccer players.”
He added that careerists are increasingly certain that the MK Party will develop and eventually dominate municipalities, provinces, and national ministries.
“The third category is members of members. They are leaving because the person they joined for, is leaving. They are political cheerleaders and permanent ice boys. They are not loyal to the EFF but an individual,” Matumba said.
