Johannesburg – Former EFF spokesperson and MP Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, whose departure from the party earlier this week followed months of internal strife, has revealed that he sought counsel from prominent political and church elders before making the decision to step away from party politics.
While Ndlozi remained tight-lipped about the specific individuals he consulted, sources have revealed that he held separate meetings with ANC heavyweights and former presidents Thabo Mbeki and Kgalema Motlanthe a week prior to his resignation.
In an interview, Ndlozi confirmed that he had consulted with numerous politicians and elders from various parties but declined to disclose all their names, citing a lack of permission to do so. However, it has been independently established that Mbeki and Motlanthe were among those he met with a week ago.
Ndlozi expressed gratitude that none of the leaders attempted to dictate his course of action. "The consensus from the people I consulted was that I handled the issue well because I never allowed it to be personal, even though, to them, it looked like that," he explained.
Reports previously indicated that Ndlozi was being courted by both the ANC and the Umkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), but he ultimately declined to join either organisation.
Ndlozi, who described the EFF as his political home, asserted that there would be no integrity in joining another party after being forced out of the organisation he had helped establish.
The accusations against Ndlozi stemmed from allegations by the party leadership that he was a disloyal, double agent who had betrayed the movement. These accusations arose after Ndlozi admitted that he was aware of then EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu's intentions to defect to Jacob Zuma's MKP last August. However, he maintained that it was not his responsibility to inform the party about Shivambu's plans.
Speaking about the circumstances surrounding his departure, Ndlozi stated that he would not have resigned had he been allowed to continue his activism at the branch level. However, after being barred from participating in all EFF activities, including in Parliament and the party's elective conference last December, he was also prevented from remaining an ordinary member at his branch.
He elaborated: "A member of the EFF has rights and an obligation [to be active]. And you couldn't say that you are a member if you were prevented [from taking part] in those conditions. When the conditions arise in which you no longer do the things that a member does, you are not a member; you are a follower. You are just a supporter."
From Parliament to Power FM: Ndlozi's New Chapter
Reflecting on his experience of being shunned by the EFF leadership, Ndlozi stated: "It got me thinking that this is it. So, I decided to put down, officially, party politics and wade into other aspects of South African life. There was a time in this country when political parties were banned, but the struggle did continue because the party-political model is not the alpha and omega for social change." He added that he harboured no grudges.
Ndlozi recalled that when he left the ANC 14 years ago, he had not been expelled but had resigned to pursue the idea of forming the EFF as an alternative.
He emphasised: "It is very important to understand that the EFF was my home. For 11 years, I went around convincing people that this was an alternative [political home]. I cannot wake up tomorrow and say, 'Well, now I am this.' There’s no integrity in that. There is no integrity in that transition. I'm saying that I had to accept [that my political involvement is over], and this acceptance is a big process."
Ndlozi reiterated that he was stepping away from party politics because he no longer had a political home.
He added: "My demise is my demise. I will go and contribute elsewhere. I've already stated that one of the big achievements of the EFF is that the economic emancipation idea has spread. Of course, other outfits are now advocating these ideas.”
While acknowledging that it would take something extraordinary for him to join another party, Ndlozi left the door slightly ajar: "But who knows? It would be precisely this energy [to fight for his beliefs] that you are talking about … Who knows, every decision has those possibilities. That's where I'm going now."
Fond Memories and Future Aspirations
Ndlozi expressed that he will miss the sense of community he shared with the "red berets," referring to the EFF members, supporters, and fans.
He reminisced: "We built a community. We were targeted, we were scandalised and we were written off. We had to sustain the project. There was no veteran among us. There were no billionaires among us. There was no former minister. We were the quintessential Marikana orphans. We had to build a political home and beyond the political home there was hope that it would be better; it would be ethically better. It would be an alternative to what our people need."
Speaking nostalgically about the EFF, he lamented that he had lost that community. "That's what has been taken away. It was for me an extremely spiritual culture, the entire culture of ethos,” he said.
Reflecting on the formation of the EFF, Ndlozi recalled: "We had to come up with a new logo and a new identity. We had to come up with a new name; we had to write and frame ideas uniquely. And then we had to go out there to show people that there is life outside the ANC. And we were young."
He added: "None of us had left the youth category. We had to convince young and old people of a new idea, a new position."
Ndlozi, a former Sasco and ANC Youth League member, left the party to launch the EFF with Julius Malema and Shivambu. He said that the journey had been priceless and he would forever cherish it.
He stated: "And the turbulence of it all, I will cherish all my life. And I gave all of myself. It was a privilege when the 2014 elections finished; I refused to go to Parliament. I had this violent resistance because I had to finish my PhD. And Floyd and Julius sat me down [and convinced me]."
Ndlozi highlighted that one of his proudest achievements was making Parliament more relevant to the public. "I'm proud of that. Lots of young people now have no doubt that they belong in the legislative echelons of our country."
Looking ahead, Ndlozi expressed his passion for civil society, stating that he had considered teaching in schools, conducting research, and engaging with young people in that space.
He concluded: "It’s a very important space. I couldn't do the work of civil society; I couldn't do the work in broadcasting that I have just accepted belonging to a political party because I needed to embrace South Africans from all walks of life."
He added that radio was the ideal medium for this, as it is based on conversations. "I will be listening to ordinary people, to experts; just helping people navigate the barriers and the divisions."
"I don't imagine that it will be a difficult job because I do have a flexible heart. Nonetheless, it will take time and commitment [to make it work], precisely because I have put party politics behind me [to tackle this new chapter]," he said.
