Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has announced that his party will not support the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party’s proposed motion of no confidence against Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana. At a media briefing on Monday, Malema dismissed the motion as “ineffective and misdirected,” arguing that it does not tackle the core issues behind South Africa’s economic and social challenges.
The MK Party, which has ties to former President Jacob Zuma, recently declared its plan to challenge Godongwana, accusing him of fiscal mismanagement and policies that have worsened inequality and unemployment. However, Malema rejected this approach, stating that the Finance Minister is not the main source of the country’s problems.
Instead, the EFF leader shifted focus to President Cyril Ramaphosa, holding him responsible for the country’s governance failures, economic decline, and worsening poverty. Malema suggested that the EFF would prioritize efforts to remove Ramaphosa rather than target individual ministers.
“The problem is not the Finance Minister. The problem is the President who appointed him and who leads this failing government,” Malema said. “Firing the Finance Minister will achieve nothing if the head of state remains corrupt, weak, and compromised.”
Malema further accused Ramaphosa of failing ordinary South Africans, pointing to high unemployment, ongoing electricity shortages, collapsing public services, and corruption scandals under his administration. He reiterated the EFF’s commitment to holding top leadership accountable.
Political analysts view the EFF’s decision as a strategic move to distance itself from the MK Party’s growing influence while reinforcing its opposition to Ramaphosa. The stance also positions the EFF as a leading opposition voice rather than a follower of newer political movements.
The EFF plans to engage other opposition parties in Parliament to build support for a broader no-confidence motion against Ramaphosa. While it remains uncertain whether this effort will succeed, the party’s position has intensified political tensions in the post-election landscape.