In a major political shift, former Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) chairperson, Advocate Dali Mpofu, has announced his resignation from the party to join the newly-formed uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP).
Mpofu, who had been with the EFF for over a decade, disclosed in a revealing interview with the SABC that he had played a central role in conceptualizing the formation of the MKP, alongside former president Jacob Zuma. The two leaders, according to Mpofu, had been quietly strategizing the creation of the new party for nearly a year, long before its public launch in December 2023.
“For about 12 months, only myself and former president Zuma knew of this project,” Mpofu told SABC. He explained that after the ANC’s 2022 conference, he and Zuma engaged in deep discussions about the future of South African politics, ultimately deciding to form a new political force that would chart a different course for the country.
Mpofu described the formation of the MKP as a carefully planned and secretive endeavor, with the project’s roots planted well before the party’s formal unveiling. “This was a project that was in the pipeline underground for about 12 months,” he added.
The MKP, inspired by the legacy of uMkhonto weSizwe, the armed wing of the ANC during the apartheid struggle, has attracted several former EFF members who have followed Mpofu’s lead in defecting to the new political movement.
Mpofu’s departure from the EFF marks the latest high-profile exit, fueling speculation about further shifts within South Africa’s political landscape as more figures align themselves with Zuma’s MKP.
With his resignation, Mpofu has sent shockwaves through the South African political scene, signaling the rise of a new force in the country’s political spectrum. The full implications of his defection and the MKP’s growing influence remain to be seen, but the stage is set for what promises to be an intriguing new chapter in South African politics.