Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has come under fire from South Africans after confirming on Thursday that his party is ready to join the Government of National Unity (GNU). Speaking at a press briefing, Malema said the only obstacle preventing the EFF from entering the GNU is African National Congress (ANC) secretary-general Fikile Mbalula.
Citizens took to social media platform X to question Malema’s stance, reminding him that in 2024 he declared the EFF would only join the GNU if the Democratic Alliance (DA) was not part of it. One user wrote: “Wait a second, didn’t you say that you won’t join the GNU while the DA is part of it!? What changed because the DA is still a part of it?” Another commented: “It can’t be Mbalula stopping it. It’s the presence of the DA and FF+, isn’t it?”
The GNU was established after the May 2024 general elections when the ANC failed to secure a majority, resulting in a coalition made up of 10 political parties.
Malema insisted the EFF is prepared to join the arrangement but accused Mbalula of blocking the move. He warned that if internal dynamics within the governing party remain unchanged, Mbalula could rise to become ANC president.
“We are ready to join GNU, and we will join it. The person who is stopping us from joining it is Mbalula,” Malema said. “Once he gets that thing of president, he’s going to get rid of that thing of DA… and say come here.”
He argued that Mbalula cannot accept the EFF holding positions senior to him, adding that those in the ANC who fear being overshadowed are reluctant to shift the coalition’s makeup. “We are his boys. We grew up under him. He knows how to resolve this thing,” he said.
Malema maintained that President Cyril Ramaphosa and most ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) members “don’t have a problem” with the EFF joining the GNU, but said the ANC leadership has refused to break ties with the DA and Freedom Front Plus (FF+). He questioned the logic of keeping the smaller parties in the coalition.
“Afriforum is FF+ and Afriforum is the one going around telling people you are killing white people,” Malema said. “Why can’t you get rid of these (DA and FF+) things because you are not gaining anything out of that?”
Malema also criticised the performance of the GNU more than a year after its establishment, saying the country’s economy remains stagnant, with GDP growth at 0.5%. He warned that South Africa risks slipping into a recession due to a lack of industrialisation and manufacturing. “They have no plan to create jobs or a plan to grow the economy even with white people there,” he said.
The EFF leader further took aim at DA leader John Steenhuisen, accusing him of contributing nothing to the GNU. Malema mocked Steenhuisen’s appearance, suggesting his tenure in the GNU amounted to “Uber Eats” the whole year. “He went to the Oval Office (US) and spoke bad about South Africa… what did you get out of that? Nothing,” he said.
