Watch: EFF SC asked “why have you been so useless” during interview

EFF Student Command President, Mandla Shikwambana, was thrown into the deep-end during a live interview, when eNCA anchor, Thembekile Mrototo, asked, bluntly; “Why have you been so useless?”

Mrototo’s opening question has since gone viral on social media, with users labelling the interrogation as ruthless and brutal. Shikwambana, faced with an onslaught of negativity, did his best to maintain his composure on live television as Mrototo probed deeper in the EFF SC’s failures.

EFF Student Command leader asked “why have you been so useless?”

The interview comes in the wake of a controversial EFF press conference, which focused extensively on the build-up to the highly-anticipated National People’s Assembly in December. This conference – the most important of its kind on the EFF’s calendar – is set to answer issues of policy, direction and leadership structures.

Already, there have been murmurs that a fierce leadership battle is brewing beneath the surface of the Red Berets. It’s been reported that party leader Julius Malema and his deputy, Floyd Shivambu, will retain their positions, while the battle for other top-spots intensify.

The EFF Student Command, which, since its inception, has made a notable impact on Students’ Representative Councils at universities and colleges, has faced fierce criticism in the run-up to the December conference, with Malema stating:

“Do we need the EFF Student Command? Perhaps at the end of this address, we should answer this because I am going to argue that we do not need the student command at the December conference.”

Malema’s statements concerning the Student Command, especially in recent media addresses, served as the foundation for Shikwambana’s eNCA appearance on Monday. The line of question, fired by Mrototo, was directly influenced by Malema’s scathing comments.

Malema’s controversial proposal to disband the EFF SC

Opposition to Malema’s proposed disbanding of the Student Command has been strong. Factional battles, led by two separate camps within the EFF, one supporting the party’s status quo and the other aligned with keeping the Student Command intact, have created friction amongst the party’s leadership ahead of the December conference.

Members of the Student Command have hit back at Malema, arguing that the disbanding of the organisation would severely hamper the EFF’s ability to resonate with the youth.

Watch: Shikwambana under fire on eNCA

This has got to be the most brutal opening question in an interview
🤣😂😂

The EFFSC President was roasted here 😂🤣😂. I mean not even a warm up or anything ? pic.twitter.com/91RERCXFrn

— King of Leon. (@MightiJamie) November 26, 2019

Shikwambana, who is of the opinion that the Student Command plays an important role in the EFF’s political pack of playing cards, said:

“The things we have done as the Student Command are impressive. We have never lost touch with our people on the ground. We have always been there for our students, since day one when we were introduced to institutions of higher learning.

I can tell you now; the Student Command is the only organisation that brought back politics of young people and students to the institutions of higher learning.”

Watch the full interview, here: