Julius Malema Sets Conditions for EFF Joining GNU, Says DA and FF Plus Must Leave First

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema said his party would be willing to join the government of national unity (GNU) if the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Freedom Front Plus withdrew, but would not compromise its political principles to enter government.

“We are not opposed to participating in GNU. If Helen (Zille) walks tomorrow, and that other one of Correctional Services, the Freedom Front, (Pieter) Groenewald, walk, we’ll go inside,” Malema said during a door-to-door election campaign in Naledi, Soweto.

“We don’t play with power. We get it, we use it to benefit the people,” he added.

Political parties have intensified campaigning ahead of the 4 November local government elections, with coalition arrangements expected to play a central role in determining who governs Johannesburg.

Malema’s remarks followed comments by DA mayoral candidate for the city, Helen Zille, opposing a municipal coalition with the EFF. He accused Zille of hostility towards the EFF, saying that the party could not be controlled by white political interests.

Malema also rejected claims that the EFF was unsuitable for coalition government because of its political conduct, saying that the ANC had faced its own governance and accountability controversies.

“The ANC is the most chaotic party,” Malema said.

Malema said the EFF would not support a GNU that included parties he associated with the killing of liberation struggle figures Chris Hani and Solomon Mahlangu.

“And they were not asking for freedom to vote, they were children. And you killed them. And those are the people we must sit with. We are not going to allow that,” Malema said.

Malema said the EFF was focused on winning the elections rather than speculating about possible coalition arrangements in metropolitan municipalities.

“Well, we go to elections to win.”