Public spats between EFF and MK weakening opposition: Analyst

Some observers say the continuing public spats between the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK Party) has the potential to weaken the Progressive Caucus in the Parliament.

This follows EFF leader Julius Malema’s recent outburst against MK Party leader Jacob Zuma.

Relations soured after several members of the Red Berets, including Floyd Shivambu, the former deputy president and EFF co-founder left to join MK.

Malema had since declared Jacob Zuma’s MK Party as the biggest enemy.

However, Political Analyst Dr Levy Ndou says this could worsen the already tense relations between the two leftist parties and weaken its position against the GNU pact.

“These unfortunate events have the potential to weaken the opposition in Parliament and one of the areas that in my view is of broad concern is that most people never expected that the MKP will be campaigning and recruiting members of the EFF into the party and that appears to be the main source of the tensions that are taking place.”

VIDEO | In response to Malema’s utterances the MK Party said that it will not be drawn into public spats with other political parties. 

Meanwhile, former African National Congress (ANC) and Congress of the People member, Dennis Bloem, says both the EFF and the MK Party are playing into the hands of those they sought to oppose.

He insists that their public spats are going to weaken their position in the National Assembly.

“Insults and name calling between EFF and the MK Party are playing in the hands of the enemy. For any democracy to succeed, such democracy needs a strong and vibrant opposition to keep the government accountable. “