Cape Town – A political clash is brewing between the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party after EFF leader Julius Malema criticised the Zuma-led party’s internal leadership changes and questioned its ability to provide stable municipal governance.
Malema made the remarks at the EFF’s KwaZulu-Natal manifesto launch at the Dr JL Dube Stadium in Inanda, north of Durban, on Saturday, 19 September, ahead of South Africa’s 4 November local government elections.
He accused the MK Party of being disorganised and pointed to its leadership changes as evidence of instability.
“MKP is dead before it was born, they are killing each other, they are destroying each other, they’re expelling each other,” Malema said.
LGE 2026 | EFF leader Julius Malema has taken a swipe at the MK Party, accusing it of being disorganised and clueless about what it is doing. Malema was speaking at the EFF’s manifesto launch at JL Dube Stadium in Inanda, north of Durban, today. pic.twitter.com/9N7sw6Fi45
— SABC News (@SABCNews) September 19, 2026
He questioned whether an MK Party mayor would remain in office, saying: “If you elect them as a mayor on the 4th [November], on the 5th bazomxosha lo mayor [they would fire the mayor].”
Malema also compared the MK Party’s leadership changes with those of the EFF.
“Only the EFF is clear, Marshall Dlamini was a secretary from the NPA [elective conference in 2024] and is still the secretary till today,” he said.
“How many secretary-generals did MK have? It’s less than three years but it has had more than 15 secretary-generals [sic] that is a sign of disorganisation.”
Malema added: “You cannot vote for disorganisation, you must vote for organisation. The EFF is the only organisation that is organised in the whole of South Africa.”
MK Party responds
MK Party secretary-general Sbonelo Nomvalo hit back, accusing Malema of focusing too much on the Zuma-led party and challenging him to direct his attention towards the EFF.
Nomvalo said the MK Party was prepared to respond if Malema continued attacking it.
“We will never allow anyone to attack our leader, Jacob Zuma. We will die for President Zuma. If you want to attack someone, attack us not the old man.” 🗣️ Sbonelo Nomvalo pic.twitter.com/MK9K3kMG3S
— Durban Network (@Durbannetwork) September 21, 2026
“If he is inviting us to a battlefield we are going to accept that invitation,” Nomvalo said.
The MK Party has experienced leadership changes as it prepares for the local government elections. However, Malema’s claim that it has had more than 15 secretary-generals was not independently verified in the available reporting.
The exchange comes as political parties intensify their campaigns ahead of the 4 November municipal elections, with KwaZulu-Natal a key focus of the contest.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
