Julius Malema, the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), held a press briefing following the 2024 South African election, where he addressed the party’s performance and its future plans.
In the briefing, Malema acknowledged that the election had not been easy for the EFF, citing the party’s struggle against the ANC Party and other opposition parties that he characterized as “puppets of the white racial capital establishment”.
The EFF, which had previously been the second-biggest opposition party, saw its support dwindle, polling 9% of the vote behind the newly formed uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party led by former President Jacob Zuma.
Malema attributed the EFF’s losses to MK’s strong performance in key provinces such as KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, and Gauteng.
Despite this setback, the EFF leader expressed gratitude to the South African people for voting the African National Congress (ANC) out of the ruling majority.
Malema Thanks Voters After ANC Setback
He emphasized that this development would lead to a more representative Parliament, free from the influence of the political elite.
“We nevertheless commend the people of South Africa for voting the ANC from the ruling majority.”
“Parliament will now be better positioned as a true representative of our people, and not a platform to protect the political elite of the ruling class,” he said.
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The EFF leader also highlighted the party’s willingness to engage in coalition talks, specifying that its preferred coalition partner would be the ANC.
Malema said this was because the former liberation movement had been humbled.
“We want to work with the ANC (If there is any Party that we can work with and work properly) because the ANC when compromised, it is not arrogant.”
He also explained that experience in local government coalitions has proven that the outgoing ruling party was easier to work with when it lacked an absolute majority
Malema emphasized that the EFF is not resigning from its leadership role and will continue to fight for the rights of the South African people.
The ANC Party Loses Majority
The African National Congress (ANC) party in South Africa lost its parliamentary majority for the first time since the end of apartheid rule in the 1990s.
With more than 99% of votes counted, the ANC received just over 40% of the vote, significantly lower than its previous share of 57.5% in the 2019 election.
This historic result marks a significant shift in South African politics, as the ANC must now seek coalition partners to remain in government.
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The ANC’s decline in support is attributed to widespread discontent over issues such as unemployment, inequality, and corruption.
The official unemployment rate is reportedly 32%, one of the highest in the world, and the poverty largely affects black people, who make up 80% of the population and have been the core of the ANC’s support for years.
The EFF leader, Julius Malema, has stated that the party is willing to talk to the ANC and has set out conditions for a coalition, including land expropriation.
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