MK Party won’t attack EFF, says Mpofu
Former EFF national chairperson and current MK Party high command member, Advocate Dali Mpofu, says the party will not be entertaining any attempts to form a political rivalry.
Mpofu and other party leaders briefed the media at Vosloorus Stadium in Ekurhuleni ahead of a one-year anniversary rally set for this Saturday.
He was responding to comments by EFF leader Julius Malema in which he declared MK Party as "enemy number one".
Malema accused the MK Party of contributing to the EFF's drop in voter support, especially in KwaZulu-Natal, where the MKP garnered the most votes of any political party.
The relationship between the EFF and MK Party became strained following the departure of Floyd Shivambu, Mpofu and several other MPs to the Jacob Zuma-led party.
Mpofu said their members were taught to remain peaceful and not attack other progressive parties.
"The organisation has made itself clear about the debates with other organisations; our approach is very simple, and this is in our constitution.
“The constitution itself enjoins our members not to engage in provocation and, in particular, not to attack other progressive forces.
“If other people want to do that, that’s fine. It is their decision, it's a free country.
“But we will not be falling into that trap. Where we are now, those of us who are old enough to have been in this space in the ‘80s will know that in this place here, we are standing on the blood of people in this particular area and that thousands and thousands of people died for nothing because of so-called political rivalry..
“There is a difference between opponents, rivalry and enemy. So we will not take the position of calling our fellow black person as an enemy, because they are our fellow oppressed," said Mpofu.
Mpofu described the MK Party as a formidable force in South Africa’s political landscape following its performance in the May general election.
It came out of the election as the country’s third-biggest party.
"The introduction of a new player in South African politics has to affect everybody. There is no single political party in South Africa that is not affected by this new giant. That is why we are celebrating our first anniversary in the spirit that we are," he said.
The MK Party is planning a big celebration for its first anniversary on December 15.
The event will take place at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, with Zuma expected to deliver the keynote address.
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