Malema rejects comments by ANC's Lesufi to explain Shivambu's EFF exit

JOHANNESBURG - Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has rejected African National Congress (ANC) Gauteng chairperson Panyaza Lesufi’s comments suggesting Floyd Shivambu’s departure was due to the lack of a generational mix in the party’s leadership.

During the ANC’s provincial lekgotla at the weekend, Lesufi attributed Malema and Shivambu’s fallout to the absence of senior leaders to guide younger generations in the EFF.

Malema finally spoke out about Shivambu’s exit from the party during an engagement with EFF supporters in Soweto on Monday night.

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While former EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu said his departure from the party was not personal but purely a political decision, party leader Malema is seemingly not convinced.

Malema said that Lesufi’s belief that the lack of elders in the EFF would lead to the party’s demise was distorted.

"You must tell Panyaza he doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Where were the elders in 2012 when we got expelled? It's not true that ageism resolves political opportunism."

Malema has questioned Shivambu’s reluctance to disclose what influenced him to ultimately leave the EFF and join the MK Party.