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University of Nelson Mandela University (NMU) political analyst, Professor Ntsikeleko Breakfast, has described the leadership style of re-elected president of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) as one that seeks to be \u201cworshipped like God,\u201d arguing that it could undermine the party\u2019s democracy and stability.<\/span><\/p>\n This comes after Malema was re-elected for the third time as the president of the red berets.<\/span><\/p>\n Breakfast argued that Malema anointed those in power.<\/span><\/p>\n Malema and other officials were elected unopposed at the party\u2019s third elective conference, dubbed the National People\u2019s Assembly (NPA) on Saturday, December 14.<\/span><\/p>\n Malema was re-elected for the third term as the president of the party, while secretary general Godrich Gardee, was also elected for the deputy president position.<\/span><\/p>\n Gardee’s unopposed election follows a defection <\/span>of a longtime friend and ally of Malema – Floyd Shivambu, to join Jacob Zuma\u2019s uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party.<\/span><\/p>\n Marshall Dlamini, who is close to Malema, was re-elected unopposed for the secretary general position, while Omphile Maotwe also returned as the treasurer general.<\/span><\/p>\n Newcomers to the top leadership positions, included Leigh-Ann Mathys, as the deputy secretary general, and Noluthando Nolutshungo as the national chairperson of the party. Three of the six officials are women.<\/span><\/p>\n In an interview with News, Breakfast expressed that he was not shocked by the outcomes of the election results.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI’m not taken aback by that. I saw it coming that only those who are anointed by Julius Malema will be elected,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n While Breakfast acknowledged that the red berets hold its elective conference every five years, he slammed its processes, describing it as \u2018partial democracy.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cBut I would call it a partial democracy because if, for instance, you are going to kick people out of the party because they prefer a particular candidate, I mean, that’s not a fully-fledged democratic practice.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Another thing that did not surprise Breakfast, was the self-nomination of Esther Molepo, a delegate from Mpumalanga for the deputy president position.<\/span><\/p>\n While Molepo cited gender equality as her main reason for her nomination, however, Breakfast questioned whether Molepo was acting in good faith or she was sent by Malema to create confusion within the party.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cDid she do that in good faith, because she wanted to convey a message that you can’t be elected without being challenged? Or, it could be that she was also sent, just to create confusion,\u201d he said, adding that Melepo\u2019s actions should be monitored.<\/span><\/p>\n Breakfast also criticised the party for its failure to empower women in leadership positions, calling it \u2018all talk and no action,\u2019 with regard to the EFF having stated a commitment to feminism and gender equality.<\/span><\/p>\n He said he had identified two threats facing the party, one being internal divisions fuelled by Malema\u2019s leadership style and the other one being external competition from the MK party.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cInternal threats are the suppression of a democracy, because when you don’t practice democracy, people are going to walk out of the party,\u201d he said referring to Malema\u2019s leadership approach.<\/span><\/p>\n He added that Malema\u2019s failure to foster a more democratic environment could hinder the party\u2019s growth.<\/span><\/p>\n Breakfast said another competition from the MK party, which he said he believes has replaced the EFF has in some areas has become a major challenge.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201dThe MK party has replaced the EFF. So, that’s a question that the party should grapple with,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n In order to address these challenges, Breakfast suggested that the party would benefit from creating a \u2018Council of the Wise,\u2019 to advise its leadership.<\/span><\/p>\n He argued that Malema\u2019s leadership style, which he described as seeking to be \u201cworshipped like God,\u201d prevented him from being held accountable for his actions.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYou don’t want to explain your actions, you might as well behave like, you know, you are God. Because, you can’t make decisions then report yourself,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n Politics<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" University of Nelson Mandela University (NMU) political analyst, Professor Ntsikeleko Breakfast, has described the leadership style of re-elected president of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) as one that seeks to be \u201cworshipped like God,\u201d arguing that it could undermine the party\u2019s democracy and stability. This comes after Malema was re-elected for the third time as […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[17123,12080,3807,963,7721,964,5087,17122,5489,1856,17121],"class_list":["post-226597","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-politics","tag-039godlike039","tag-analyst","tag-eff","tag-julius","tag-leadership","tag-malema","tag-political","tag-president039s","tag-questions","tag-style","tag-untouchable"],"yoast_head":"\n