Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has declared his party’s readiness to form a coalition government with the African National Congress (ANC), signaling a potential shift in South Africa’s political landscape.
Speaking at the EFF’s elective conference at Nasrec in Johannesburg, Malema criticized the current Government of National Unity (GNU), predicting its collapse due to disagreements over the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill. The bill has been a contentious issue, with the ANC and Democratic Alliance (DA) holding opposing views. The DA has even threatened to quit the GNU if the bill is passed.
Malema Predicts End of ANC-DA Partnership
Malema expressed confidence that the DA would soon abandon its coalition with the ANC. “This GNU will not last because if [President Cyril] Ramaphosa doesn’t sign the BELA Bill, the ANC will remove him,” Malema asserted. He added, “If he is not going now, he will be removed in 2027. The next leader of the ANC will fight against the GNU, and that is why we believe it is temporary.”
The EFF leader suggested that his party is poised to step into the government once the ANC-DA relationship collapses. “Don’t rush, comrades. We are waiting. We are going to enter this government. When they start fighting with Helen Zille, siyangena (we are entering),” he said.
EFF’s Stance on Joining Government
Malema reaffirmed the EFF’s readiness to govern, emphasizing that any participation in the GNU would be to serve the people, not to rescue the ANC. Earlier this year, the EFF declined an invitation to join the GNU, citing opposition to governing alongside the DA and Freedom Front Plus.
“We are going to be in government. It is only a matter of time. And we are not going to join the GNU to save the ANC but to serve our people,” Malema declared.
A Waiting Game
The EFF leader’s remarks underscore his strategy of patience and political maneuvering. With growing tensions between the ANC and DA over the BELA Bill and other issues, Malema is positioning the EFF as a decisive player in South Africa’s future political landscape.
Whether the EFF’s ambitions materialize remains to be seen, but Malema’s statements indicate that his party is preparing for a significant role in shaping the country’s governance in the near future.