EFF leader Julius Malema used his visit to AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo to deliver a sharp critique of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s planned trip to the United States, questioning the timing as South Africa grapples with domestic crises.
Speaking to media at the Nkululekweni Royal Residence, Malema stated: “You cannot abandon your country during a crisis to go to America, where you’ll face mistreatment and disrespect.” His remarks underscored the EFF’s ongoing criticism of the ANC-led government’s priorities.
The visit formed part of the EFF’s broader engagement with traditional leaders, with Malema leading a delegation to formally invite King Dalindyebo to the party’s 12th Anniversary Celebration at Umthatha Stadium next month.
EFF national spokesperson Sinawo Thambo explained: “We’ve come to notify His Majesty of our anniversary event and humbly request his blessings, support, and the royal household’s presence.” The choice of Umthatha as the venue carries symbolic weight, reflecting the party’s focus on traditional communities.
Malema and Dalindyebo share a long-standing relationship, dating back to when the EFF supported the monarch during his 2015-2019 incarceration. In 2021, the party gifted the king a Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe SUV – a gesture Malema defended as solidarity rather than political bribery.
The anniversary event is expected to draw thousands of supporters, with the party planning to emphasize its core messages of economic emancipation, land redistribution, and traditional leadership rights.
Malema’s comments on Ramaphosa’s foreign travel mirror growing public frustration over perceived government detachment from pressing local issues like unemployment and service delivery failures. His royal visit and subsequent remarks highlight the EFF’s dual strategy of cultivating traditional alliances while maintaining its anti-establishment posture.
Political analysts suggest the Umthatha anniversary rally could serve as a springboard for the EFF’s 2024 election campaign, particularly in Eastern Cape strongholds. The party’s courtship of influential traditional leaders like Dalindyebo forms part of its broader rural mobilization strategy.
As South Africa faces multiple socioeconomic challenges, Malema’s latest intervention reinforces his party’s narrative of being the true defenders of both cultural heritage and radical economic transformation.