EFF sparks debate over its feminist identity

A tweet recently sent out by EFF MP and #FeesMustFall activist Naledi Chirwa has sparked debate over the party’s feminist identity.

In her tweet, Chirwa referenced a quote which she attributed to the party’s deputy president and the quote reads as follows: “The EFF is a feminist organisation and we are unapologetic about that.”

EFF Deputy President and Chief Whip @FloydShivambu taking MPs and MPLs through the EFF Founding Manifesto as the basis of their deployment to legislatures #EFFinduction pic.twitter.com/7QFgjg1EcC

— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) June 23, 2019

"The EFF is a feminist organization and we are unapologetic about that." DP Floyd Shivambu

— Ma’Chirwa (@NalediMpungose_) June 23, 2019

It is the EFF and only the EFF that has made a bold assertion that feminist discourse and gender mainstreaming be absorbed from primary education. That both public and private entities have systems for reporting on GBV, implementing and protecting womxn's rights.

— Ma’Chirwa (@NalediMpungose_) June 24, 2019

Numerous Twitter users, like pan-African feminist author and professor Pumla Dineo Gqola, then directly challenged Chirwa in conversation or shared their thoughts regarding her (and Shivambu’s) claims.

Various arguments were raised including the current gender split amongst EFF leadership, the party’s past treatment of female journalists and other previous acts that may not be considered feminist.

Naledi Chirwa arguing that EFF is a feminist organization and all the EFF men congregating in her comments to prove her otherwise 👡👡👡

— angela bassett did the thing (@naledimashishi) June 24, 2019

https://twitter.com/phindo_X/status/1143048613200838656

Ok, seriously, this is hilarious to me. A riot. No, it’s not. Does it have some of fiercest feminists in its leadership & members? Absolutely! But watch its public performances, press conferences, talking heads and tell me again. Feminist is as feminist acts. https://t.co/nK8faku1k9

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— Pumla Dineo Gqola, PhD (@feminist_rogue) June 23, 2019

She’d be one of the people I say are absolutely some of the fiercest feminists in leadership and membershio of @EFFSouthAfrica if you actually read what I said. Chirwa too. Matthys too. Mavuso too. Many others.

— Pumla Dineo Gqola, PhD (@feminist_rogue) June 24, 2019

Leigh-Ann Mathys? Mandisa Mashego? You do know that they are commissars as well right? Or we are in the business of not seeing womxn once again? Okay.

— Ma’Chirwa (@NalediMpungose_) June 24, 2019

But now you're making your inability to see the womxn an anxiety we should all carry. Cmsr Leigh-Ann Mathys is in the top 6. Cmsr Mandisa Mashego a chairperson of a province. Does you not seeing them have them cease being commissars? You chose to see the feminism of Dr Ndlozi.

— Ma’Chirwa (@NalediMpungose_) June 24, 2019

Speak for yourself. When some of us think of the EFF we think Mam Khawula, Mam Sonti, Mandisa Mashego, the list is endless. It's a choice, both by media and society to not see EFF women.

— Ma’Chirwa (@NalediMpungose_) June 24, 2019

https://twitter.com/Fi_ooh_na/status/1143066163611668481

https://twitter.com/Fi_ooh_na/status/1143068395983818752

hayi hayi EFF is a Marxist-fanonist-leninist organization nothing else

— Bulumko Mpambani (@Bulumko_MP) June 23, 2019

https://twitter.com/Azanian_Product/status/1143067398657982464

There was also a strong rejection of the idea of feminism from staunch EFF supporters who labelled it a “white creation” and a “tool to hate poor black men”.

https://twitter.com/Azanian_Product/status/1142783767725129728

https://twitter.com/MsebzSiseko/status/1142841809829269504

Floyd: EFF is a feminist organisation

Men in the EFF: pic.twitter.com/f0QfbpffZ6

— Ole (@BadvocateO) June 24, 2019

Droves of EFF men 'revolting' against a "The EFF is a feminist organisation" quote attributed to Floyd Shivambu is exceptional form.
Even for them.

Irony doesn't die.
Irony is inevitable.

— Ottilia Anna MaSibanda (@MaS1banda) June 24, 2019

https://twitter.com/FrankieVII/status/1143123959564709888

According to Chirwa and her ilk, those who do not believe the EFF is a feminist organisation only have themselves to blame for that perception.

Everybody likes doing this; isolating feminists of EFF from EFF, yet using a few men's toxicity as an identity of EFF. Our spectacle is pervasive. When you think of EFF you think of and only see the men. Not our manifesto, not the womxn, not the suspension of ALLEGED rapists 😊 https://t.co/wNMwrxdXvz

— Ma’Chirwa (@NalediMpungose_) June 24, 2019

The EFF radical feminist are there, they are always on the ground conscientising the masses, they are there doing the ground work of the revolution.

It’s okay refuse to see them pic.twitter.com/u1RYLdXqwd

— Andi Motsepe (@AndiswaMadikazi) June 24, 2019

The EFF has many black radical feminists in its structures. We have them in our branch leadership, in all provincial structures, we have then in our CCT.

To want to quantify the bar of feminism based on who YOU know in the EFF is myopic.

— Nomampondomise ✊🏽🏳️‍🌈 (@YolzYako) June 24, 2019

Apart from a few tweets by the party’s leader Julius Malema, the party’s leadership has remained mum on the debate about their feminist identity.

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