Mbuyiseni Ndlozi resigns as EFF parliament member in expected move

Johannesburg, South Africa – In a move that has sparked discussions across the nation, Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, a prominent figure in the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), has voluntarily resigned from his position as a member of Parliament.

Alongside him, fellow EFF member Yazini Tetyana also tendered her resignation, marking the end of a significant era in the party’s parliamentary representation.

The news, which many had anticipated, broke early Thursday morning. Both Ndlozi and Tetyana submitted their resignation letters to the party’s Secretary-General, formally requesting to be released from their duties. The EFF confirmed the development in a statement, acknowledging the voluntary departures with a sense of gratitude for the years of exemplary service rendered by both members.

“The EFF has accepted the respective voluntary requests to be released from deployment of the two Fighters, who have diligently served the organisation in their respective deployments since the EFF has had representation in the legislative sphere,” the party stated.

The EFF emphasised the contribution of both Tetyana, who was a member of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature and Parliament, and Ndlozi, who had been serving in the National Assembly since 2014.

“The voluntary requests to be released from deployment, which were sent to the Secretary General of the EFF consecutively and within days of each other, expressed gratitude to the EFF for the opportunity to serve the organisation and the people of South Africa,” the statement added.

However, Ndlozi’s departure comes amid internal party turbulence, following a first clear public fallout with EFF leader Julius Malema In December 2024. During the EFF’s third annual elective conference, which Ndlozi was barred from attending, Malema sharply criticised the party’s former spokesman, describing him as a leader plagued by “egoism and ignorance”. Malema’s utterances were seen as a direct response to the tension between him and Ndlozi.

Malema went so far as to instruct EFF members to treat Ndlozi “as an ordinary member,” signaling a deep rift within the party.

A history of turbulence within the EEF

Malema’s anger towards Ndlozi was fuelled by the party’s Deputy President Floyd Shivambu’s sudden shocking resignation in early August 2024, which blindsided not only Malema, but the EFF voters. So tragic was Shivambu’s departure that Malema likened it to the death of his mother. It was revealed that Ndlozi had been aware of Shivambu’s plans to join the opposition party, Umkhonto Wedizwe (MK Party), but chose not to inform Malema about it.

Malema, who felt betrayed by Shivambu’s exit, described the former Deputy President’s departure as a betrayal of the EFF’s cause. The revelation of Ndlozi’s knowledge of Shivambu’s defection, yet failure to disclose it to Malema, is largely blamed for their rift. Malema publicly stated that he could no longer trust anyone who kept such critical information from him.

Before the resignation, Ndlozi had been noticeably absent from key party activities and parliamentary sessions. He also diminished his participation on social media, raising speculation about his future within the EFF.

As both Ndlozi and Tetyana step down, questions remain about the future of the EFF’s leadership and the party’s ongoing internal struggles. Will these resignations be a turning point for the EFF, or will they signal deeper divisions within the movement?