Former Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MP Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi says party leader Julius Malema relied on "lies", intelligence reports and conspiracy theories to suspend him from the party pending an investigation that he was going to join MK Party.
Ndlozi was suspended just six weeks before the EFF's third elective conference in December, as the leadership suspected he was an MKP agent sent to infiltrate the party.
Despite the EFF denying claims that they had suspended him and also accusing the media of "shebeen gossip", Ndlozi confirmed in an exclusive interview with the SABC that the party had suspended him.
He has now officially resigned from the EFF. Ndlozi said his suspension was unconventional, as it did not adhere to the EFF's code of conduct.
"The suspension rested on two counts: on the one hand, the leadership said that it’s in possession of an intelligence report in which they claim that I’m part of the infiltration strategy by the MKP.
"I am working with the MKP ... I am planning to go to join them. I’m waiting for some opportune moment," he clarified.
The second allegation was that he knew about the then deputy president Floyd Shivambu’s plans to dump the EFF to join MKP but said nothing.
Ndlozi confirmed the allegations although he did not inform the leadership, especially Malema. He argued that it was not his call to do that.
"I was told to stay at home, cease my participation in Parliament and the rest of the activities of the EFF," he explained. He said that the leadership said the report would be released after the conference.
Ndlozi said he was assured that he would be given a chance to respond to the allegation, but it did not happen.
"At a later stage, the leadership argued that the report would only be ready after the conference and the matter has been referred to the leadership after the conference.
"It seemed fair for me to wait to clear my name in relation to these allegations so that I don’t function with a dark cloud on my head or a gun on my face," he said.
Ndlozi dismissed the claims against him as "dangerous" and said he would not join the MKP.
“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," he said.
Ndlozi’s future within the EFF has been a topic of intense speculation, especially after Shivambu left.
This also crippled Malema and Ndlozi's relationship.
Malema recently said he has “no personal relationship” and was also not Ndlozi's father, therefore, he would not be responsible for him.
IOL Politics