Former EFF spokesperson and MP Mbuyiseni Ndlozi consulted with former ANC Presidents Thabo Mbeki and Kgalema Motlanthe before quitting the EFF. Ndlozi, who recently left Julius Malema’s party after months of disputes with its leadership, has decided to step away from politics and pursue a career in the media industry. He has accepted a position as a radio host for Power FM.
Consultations Before Resignation
While Ndlozi did not confirm the identities of those he consulted, sources revealed that he sought advice from Mbeki and Motlanthe, meeting with them separately a week ago. This was reported by City Press.
Ndlozi stated that he had started reaching out to former and current ANC leaders for guidance after the EFF leadership “put him on ice” without providing a hearing date for allegations of disloyalty. He also sought advice from religious leaders during this period.
“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,” Ndlozi said.
Speculation About Joining the ANC
Last month, The Citizen reported that ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said he would not be surprised if Ndlozi was persuaded to join the ANC. Speculation over Ndlozi’s future intensified after Floyd Shivambu, the EFF’s former deputy president, left to join Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto WeSizwe party (MK).
Mbalula suggested that the ANC could be in talks with Ndlozi. “Mbuyiseni is not just a small boy in politics. If you are powerful, you are powerful, and you would think that someone like Ndlozi can just be kicked out. So there is nothing wrong with ANC members and everyone can talk to Mbuyiseni. In the end, it’s his choice.”
However, Ndlozi stated that he saw no integrity in joining another party after being forced out of an organization he helped found.
Departure from the EFF
Ndlozi officially resigned from the EFF last week, explaining that he had shifted his focus from politics after months of introspection.
During an interview with MacG on the Podcast & Chill YouTube show, he discussed his relationship with Julius Malema following his suspension. Ndlozi expressed that he had no intention of speaking ill of Malema or making political disagreements personal. “Progressive revolutions are a high calling that stem from a place of love,” he said.
Ndlozi revealed that he spoke with Malema on November 11, the day his suspension letter was handed out.
Allegations of Disloyalty
Ndlozi faced accusations from EFF leadership of being a disloyal double agent who had betrayed the movement. These allegations surfaced after he admitted to knowing about Floyd Shivambu’s plans to join Zuma’s MK party last August. Ndlozi stated it was not his responsibility to inform the EFF of Shivambu’s intentions.
The former MP addressed the complexities of political relationships, acknowledging that conflict and disagreements are inevitable in any political movement. He denied conspiring against the party’s leadership and said his suspension was based on an unfounded intelligence report. Ndlozi revealed that he was suspended weeks before the EFF’s National People’s Assembly.
Ndlozi, who had previously been a member of the South African Students Congress (Sasco) and the ANC Youth League, left the ANC to help launch the EFF alongside Malema and Shivambu. He said he cherished the journey and was proud of making Parliament relevant to the public.
Transition to Media
On Friday, Ndlozi announced his excitement about starting his new role as a Power FM talk show host. “Radio, more than other mediums, presents the listener’s voice and capacity on the spot. It is driven by that interaction,” he said.
He added that he is eager to highlight intellectual resources that can help people improve their lives in areas such as community development, business, education, the arts, and political policymaking.
Ndlozi also revealed his passion for civil society and his interest in going into schools to teach and conduct research. He sees radio as the perfect medium for conversations that can help people navigate life’s barriers and divisions. “I will be listening to ordinary people, to experts; just helping people navigate the barriers and the divisions,” he concluded.