Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, an Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) member who has been asked to quit the ‘cult’ party, was caught laughing with party head Julius Malema on Wednesday.
Their joyous moment was filmed as the couple went to see Gauteng MEC for Finance, Lebogang Maile, who had recently lost his son.
The two were accompanied by Collen Malatji, President of the African National Congress Youth League, and other EFF members.
Malema’s former deputy president, Floyd Shivambu, has left the party to join the uMkhonto WeSizwe Party, leading to more scrutiny.
Following Shivambu’s departure last week, Malema addressed red beret supporters on Monday and stated, without naming Ndlozi, that those who wish to go should do so.
“Leave now, so that we can know how many soldiers we have in this struggle to liberate us. You must leave today because nothing is going to change between now and December, nothing is going to change now and the future.
“Leave now, we have no reason to beg anyone. If you want to leave, leave now and leave us alone. Even if we are alone, we will always continue to speak truth to power. It’s very painful to count the soldiers you don’t have,” Malema said.
He criticised the silence of leaders who were usually vocal on other matters on social media, most assumed that he was referring to Ndlozi.
“A leader of the EFF who is well-known, who is very popular on social media, television, radio and everywhere else … the EFF gets under attack, and these leaders do not say anything, but because they don’t know where they stand,’’ he said.
In his address, the visibly upset Malema took a swipe at Ndlozi’s partner, Mmabatho Montsho, and bashed her for liking a social media post where Shivambu wrote that joining the MK Party was the best decision he had made.
“How can someone say the decision to join uMkhonto weSizwe is the best decision ever taken and my wife, Mantwa, is the first one to like such a thing and you say ‘Julius Malema is with us’,“ he said.
Following the fiery speech, netizens have encouraged Ndlozi to pack his bags and leave after the disrespect directed at his partner.
An X user going by the handle, Vanillasausy wrote that Malema seems to not only monitor his member’s social media, but even monitors your family’s.
“Just a like or retweet can make you be expelled in the EFF. I am bleeding for Dr Ndlozi. This is abuse,” they posted.
Another user, tsheko2020, defended Montsho, saying: “Ndlozi’s wife Mmabatho Montsho is an adult and is within her rights to have different political view, Mbuyiseni must leave the cult and join another political party.”
