The Economic Freedom Fighters will emerge with a new deputy president at their National People’s Assembly later in December after long-time deputy president Floyd Shivambu leaving to join the MK Party in August.

Shivambu’s resignation has shook the party, along with high profile departures including the likes of Busisiwe Mkhwebane, Mzwanele Manyi and Dali Mpofu.

The EFF branches are lobbying three potential names to fill the vacant position, secretary-general Marshall Dlamini, Godrich Gardee, Vuyani Pambo or Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, who has been under the spotlight for weeks with many prominent EFF officials calling him out after he too was fired to be on his way to the MKP.

But, who will emerge?

The red berets are gearing up for the much anticipated third National People’s Assembly conference, set to be held at Nasrec Expo Centre, Johannesburg from December 12 to 15.

The conference comes on the wave of resignations by prominent members, including Shivambu, a close friend and “brother” of EFF president Julius Malema, who joined Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe Party and has since been appointed secretary-general.

Shivambu’s resignation from the party is believed to have fuelled the wave of resignation of other members, who also joined the spears of MKP.

Among others the latest senior members are Mpofu and Alfred Motsi, including former Public ProtectorMkhwebane, former founding president of the EFF Student Command Mpho Morolane.

Political analysts have since attributed the wave of resignation within the party to lack of constructive political ideology, rising tensions concerning racial issues, and ineffective governance.

As EFF members prepare to wear the red overalls for the upcoming conference, which will seek to elect new highest decision making leaders, the position of deputy president has been the centre of attention.

The big question that is hanging on people’s heads, is: Who is capable enough and has what it takes to occupy the hot seat?…

In an interview with IOL News, EFF’s national spokesperson Leigh-Ann Mathys said the nominations for positions will only be determined at the conference.

“We currently do not know. As you know, nominations are made from the floor during the conference. It is only in that moment, during the nomination process itself, that we will know,” Mathys said.

When asked how the conference will address the wave of resignations by the party’s members, many of whom joined MK Party, Mathys denied that the party is ‘bleeding’ from losing prominent members.

“There is no wave of resignations from our organisation to the MK party,” she told IOL News.

Mathys confirmed that the National People's Assembly (NPA), will focus on the party’s performance in the last five years and adopt resolutions aimed at accelerating electoral growth.

“The Central Command Team will convene a plenum to ensure the immediate implementation of the resolutions passed at the conference,” she said.

Mathys said from the critical platform they will engage in formulating strategies for the upcoming 2026 local government elections.

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Who will fill Floyd Shivambu’s shoes as deputy president after MKP exit? | EFF Elective Conference