The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) faced a significant decline in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), securing only 2.56% of the votes in the province. In contrast, Jacob Zuma's MK Party (MKP) dominated with 45.93%, signaling a major shift in the political landscape. The ANC, historically dominant in KZN, also saw a steep decline, earning only 17.63% compared to 55.47% in 2019. Floyd Shivambu, who had been deployed by the EFF to KZN ahead of the elections, has since left the party to join the MKP.

EFF leader Julius Malema has accused Shivambu of failing in his duties, blaming him for the party's poor performance in the province. Speaking at the Gauteng Provincial General Assembly on Sunday, Malema criticized what he termed "organisational decay" in KZN, suggesting it was a result of infiltration. Malema stated, “The orchestrated organisational decay in KZN before elections constitutes a clear example of infiltration. The person deployed there was not only out of touch with the realities on the ground but may have been aware of the impending damage and chose to remain silent due to their own betrayal of this movement.�

�� He further accused Shivambu of pressuring the EFF leadership to compromise their principles to secure positions in a government of national unity (GNU). Malema claimed Shivambu sought to align with the ANC-led GNU, describing it as a "compromised government led by descendants of settler colonialists and white supremacists." Reflecting on this period, Malema said, “We were pressured to write petitions for inclusion in a government that betrayed our principles of anti-racism and the return of the land. This pressure, driven by a hunger for positions, weakened the core values of the EFF.” He also dismissed Shivambu's claims of mistreatment within the EFF, asserting that the party had made significant efforts to protect him, only for him to betray their trust.

“The very person who now accuses us of gangsterism is the one we went to great lengths to defend and dignify. Their departure represents not just betrayal but an attempt to infiltrate and weaken this movement from within,” Malema concluded.