EFF leader Julius Malema claims that while Jacob Zuma was looking at establishing a political party, Dali Mpofu proposed dissolving the EFF and uniting behind Zuma. Mpofu left the EFF and joined the MK party on Thursday.

Months before the formation of what is now South Africa's third-largest political party, uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK), there were discussions about smaller parties - such as the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), African Transformation Movement (ATM), United Democratic Movement (UDM), and PAC - dissolving and uniting under the leadership of former president Jacob Zuma.

When the first meeting was called by Zuma in 2023, Dali Mpofu, who was still an EFF member, allegedly made a presentation in which he said the EFF must shut down.

"Dali made a presentation of a paper where he said the EFF must close down with the other parties and then form something under Zuma's leadership," EFF leader Julius Malema said during a podcast with the party's national spokesperson Leigh-Ann Mathys on Thursday, 7 November 2024.

He said then EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu rejected the proposal.

"Floyd said, 'No ways, it is not going to happen,' " said Malema, who added that Shivambu was "extremely shocked" when he returned from the meeting.

"He was shocked that Dali is not only proposing it, but he had written it down and has had time to...