After years at the forefront of South African politics, Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi has officially severed ties with the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). But his next move is set to shake up a different battlefield entirely.
The end of an era
Once a key voice of the red berets, Ndlozi was the EFF’s first official spokesperson and a Member of Parliament since 2014. However, his departure has been anything but smooth. After resigning from Parliament in January 2025, rumors swirled about internal tensions within the party, culminating in his complete exit from political life.
In an exclusive interview with SABC News on Sunday night, Ndlozi broke months of silence, setting the record straight on the circumstances surrounding his resignation.
“I was suspended about six weeks before the EFF conference, and the suspension was unconventional in that it didn’t rely on the code of conduct of the EFF summoned by its constitution,” he revealed.
He further explained that his absence from the party’s 3rd National People’s Assembly stemmed from allegations that he had ties to the MK Party, a claim he vehemently denies.
“I can state categorically now that I never planned to join the MKP—I still don’t. I never worked with anyone in the MKP in relation to some conspiracy about my departure. The information they had was based largely on lies,” Ndlozi asserted.
He also acknowledged that he was aware of former EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu’s plan to leave for the MK Party — as we previously reported but rejected the notion that he was obligated to report it.
“The idea that I should have run behind his back and informed other people, or the leadership, suggests that I’m an informant, a gossiper, or a wedge driver. I am none of those,” he stated.
With tensions mounting, Ndlozi was ultimately sidelined from contesting for a leadership position at the EFF’s elective conference, despite strong support for his bid as deputy president. EFF leader Julius Malema made it clear that he would not work with individuals he believed were undermining the party’s revolutionary vision.
A New Beginning
Despite the fallout, Ndlozi remains undeterred. He has set his sights on academia, where he hopes to fill what he describes as a significant gap in South Africa’s intellectual discourse.
“I have been fortunate that in my life, I have never been one-dimensional,” he said, hinting at his ability to adapt beyond the political arena.
His decision marks a profound shift—not just for him, but for South Africa’s political landscape. With his departure, the EFF loses one of its most articulate and charismatic figures, while the academic world gains a thinker unafraid to challenge dominant narratives.
As Ndlozi embarks on this next phase, his impact on South Africa is far from over. Whether in politics, academia, or civil society, one thing is certain—his voice will not be silenced.
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