South Africa’s third-largest political party rebuffs attendance at rival movement’s anniversary celebration, highlighting growing divisions within opposition alliance.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) will not attend the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party’s first anniversary rally, according to EFF Secretary-General Marshall Dlamini. The announcement comes as tensions emerge between the opposition parties ahead of crucial political gatherings.

Dlamini stated the EFF never received a formal invitation from MK Party, despite MK’s public claims of extending one. The celebration is scheduled for Sunday at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

MK Party Secretary-General Floyd Shivambu announced on Wednesday they had invited all progressive caucus members, including the EFF, to deliver messages of support at the rally.

The dispute intensified as Dlamini noted the EFF received well-wishes from other political parties for their upcoming conference, but nothing directly from MK Party leadership.

“The well-wishes we have received came from different political parties including UDM, ATM and others. I don’t have a letter from the MK president. They put it in the media,” Dlamini said.

MK Party released a statement Thursday congratulating the EFF on their 11-year existence and upcoming national people’s assembly at Nasrec Expo Centre, Soweto.

The statement emphasized shared political objectives: “As the Progressive Caucus, we stand united in dismantling the imperial system and will continue to fight for the reclamation of our dignity, land, mineral resources, and the nationalisation of mines.”

MK Party has been building momentum through recent mini rallies in Gauteng and Mpumalanga provinces, while the EFF prepares for its elective conference this weekend.

The African Transformation Movement joined other opposition parties in extending formal wishes to the EFF for their conference, further highlighting MK Party’s contested position within the opposition alliance.