President Cyril Ramaphosa’s leadership style continues to draw stark comparisons to that of his predecessor, Jacob Zuma, especially as the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) ramp up their campaign to seize Zuma’s Nkandla homestead over unpaid legal fees.
Unlike Zuma — described by critics as a “side-hustler-in-chief” whose tenure was marked by cabinet reshuffles and fiscal raids conducted with clockwork precision — Ramaphosa is portrayed as a leader dedicated to governance. Despite his own controversies, including the ongoing saga of the Phala Phala dollars, Ramaphosa has been cast as a president who prioritizes state affairs over personal enrichment.
The Phala Phala incident, involving $580,000 found concealed in a sofa on Ramaphosa’s farm, continues to shadow his presidency. While the Reserve Bank, Revenue Service, National Prosecuting Authority, and others have largely accepted his defense that the cash originated from a cattle sale, public skepticism lingers. The case resurfaced this week as the Constitutional Court considered the EFF’s push to revive impeachment proceedings against him.
Amid these courtroom battles, Julius Malema’s EFF has also reignited its “Pay Back the Money” crusade, targeting Jacob Zuma directly. The party is pursuing the attachment of Zuma’s assets — including the infamous Nkandla firepool and other features — to recover legal costs the former president owes the EFF.
The move comes against a backdrop of souring relations between the EFF and Zuma-aligned factions. Initially aligned post-2019 elections under a “progressive caucus,” their alliance has frayed as Zuma shifts focus to his newly formed political movement. With his eye on local government elections in 2026, Zuma has reportedly poached several high-profile EFF figures, including Floyd Shivambu and Dali Mpofu.
Malema’s fiery response, including threats to seize Zuma’s assets, underscores the deepening rivalry. “It’s payback time,” declared Malema, signaling a return to the confrontational politics that first catapulted the EFF into the national spotlight.
The battle for political dominance between the EFF and Zuma’s camp is more than a clash of personalities; it is shaping into a defining contest over the future of South Africa’s opposition landscape, with implications that could reverberate well beyond 2026.