MK party 'will make up with the EFF'

Chief whip Colleen Makhubele says fixing the relationship between the two parties is important for the progressive caucus in parliament

- Lunga Mzangwe

Newly appointed uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party chief whip Colleen Makhubele says she will reach out to the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leadership to discuss how the two organisations can repair their working relationship.

The relationship between the two parties soured last year over the defection to the MK party of former EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu, former national chair Dali Mpofu and Mzwanele Manyi.

In November, the EFF said it was re-evaluating its position in the so-called progressive caucus — an alliance of opposition parties, including MK, formed to challenge President Cyril Ramaphosa's government of national unity.

Makhubele, who recently replaced Manyi as the MK party chief whip in parliament, said the affiliation with the EFF was "important for the progressive caucus".

"We meet from time to time and I think we need to strengthen that relationship because we agree in many of our policy directions."

"There are many important areas that we will be collaborating on and I trust that, as a new whip, I will be reaching out to the EFF to start a dialogue on how we can effectively work together."

After the departures to the MK party, EFF leader Julius Malema declared Jacob Zuma's party its biggest enemy, alleging it was trying to destroy the Red Berets from within.