I’VE always maintained Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi as an independent thinker.
It was not going to be easy to persuade him to join any party or movement.
Ask the African National Congress SG Fikile “Mbaks” Mbalula, who claimed they were talking to convince Ndlozi to ‘come back home?”
As a self-determining character, he cannot be swayed easily.
This morning, we woke up to news that Ndlozi resigned from Economic Freedom Fighters, following his suspension, and has handed in his resignation letter as a Member of Parliament, citing “had decided to leave party politics and make contributions outside that arena” he told the public broadcaster.
“I have handed over my resignation. I have left the EFF, I have left party politics. EFF is a political party. I have handed in my resignation as a member, and it is because where I want to go and contribute, I can’t hold a single-party membership,” he said.
“But overall, I think that I’ve made my contribution, and I think that there are brilliant young men and women, old men and women in the space who will continue in that category, as it were, of party politics.”
Since he’s fallout with EFF’s headhoncho Julius Sello Malema, following an exodus of the likes of Dali Mpofu, Adv Busisiwe Mkhwebane and of particular Floyd Nyiko Shivambu, both Malema and Ndlozi have not seen eye to eye.
Malema criticised party members for not pledging allegiance to the party after alleging that Ndlozi was aware of Shivambu’s plans to defect to the MK party but did not say anything, prompting the famous “I’m not his father” when asked where was Ndlozi, during EFF’s election in December 2024.
During interview, Dr Ndlozi confirmed that he was barred from attending the EFF national people’s assembly in December and had been suspended six weeks before it.
He said this was because of reports that he was among the EFF leaders waiting for the right moment to defect to the MK party. Ndlozi said it was not his responsibility to inform the EFF leadership of Shivambu’s plans to leave the party.
He described the suspension as irregular, arguing that it did not align with the party’s constitution.
“I was told to stay at home and not participate in parliament and the rest of the activities of the EFF. It was very important for me because they said that the investigation is still ongoing; when it is finished, I’ll then be given an opportunity to respond. I think we can agree that these are very serious allegations,” he said.
Dr Ndlozi said it right to defend himself and speak out to clear his dented name.
He was a founding member of the party and previously served as its national spokesperson and an MP.
Spokesperson for EFF- Sinawo Thambo said his public pronouncements constituted a resignation and that the party wished him well.
Future endeavours, Ndlozi indicated he will focus on education as a discourse.
Image (Focusing on education. Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlovu resigns from EFF).
