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

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has set out the conditions under which his party would consider joining the Government of National Unity (GNU), stating that the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Freedom Front Plus (FF+) must first exit the arrangement.

We are not opposed to participating in GNU. If Helen Zille walks tomorrow, and that other one of Correctional Service, the Freedom Front, walk, we’ll go inside.

Malema made the remarks over the weekend during a door-to-door campaign in Naledi, Soweto, as parties intensify efforts ahead of the 4 November Local Government Elections.

The EFF leader has previously maintained a firm stance against working with the DA and FF+, often describing such alliances as a “sold-out position.” He has specifically rejected the idea of governing alongside parties he associates with the historical oppression of liberation struggle figures, stating, “We don’t want a GNU that has got murders in it.”

Malema’s comments follow recent tensions within the GNU, particularly regarding the DA’s support for the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) in its opposition to the ANC’s bid to reinstate 181 disqualified councillor candidates. While the ANC has hinted at reviewing its relationship with the DA, Malema insists that the EFF remains focused on winning the upcoming elections rather than speculating on coalition arrangements.