Zuma, Malema feud 'helps' GNU

UNHAPPY: RIFT BETWEEN PARTY LEADERS IMPEDES LIKELIHOOD OF UNIFIED RADICAL LEFT

- Brian Sokutu

• Fiesty Juju expresses his willingness to 'fight'.

The growing rift between u Mkhonto we Sizwe party (MK) leader Jacob Zuma and EFF leader Julius Malema has impeded any potential prospects of South Africa's radical left aligning to unseat the government of national unity (GNU), according to political analysts.

Experts yesterday said the anti GNU support within ANC ranks was also too insignificant to effectively push an MK-EFF line against the inclusion of the DA in government.

This is against the background of Malema's unhappiness over the exodus of the EFF leadership to the MK.

Defected EFF political heavyweights have included Floyd Shivambu, Mzwanele Manyi, Busisiwe Mkhwebane and Dali Mpofu, with more expected to cross the floor.

Malema this week said he was not intimidated by Zuma, ex-pressing a readiness "to fight".

Political economist Dr Sam Koma said the Malema-Zuma rift was "a blow to the radical left plans to unseat the GNU".

"While moves to unseat the GNU were earlier affirmed by a pronouncement of the progressive caucus in parliament, the latest developments have dented this prospect.