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

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

We are not opposed to participating in GNU. If Helen 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. His comments follow recent tensions within the GNU, particularly regarding the ANC’s relationship with the DA following the latter’s support for the Electoral Commission of South Africa’s (IEC) opposition to the ANC’s bid to reinstate 181 disqualified councillor candidates.

Malema stated that the EFF would not support a GNU that included parties he associated with the killing of liberation struggle figures. He also hit back at DA Johannesburg mayoral candidate Helen Zille over her refusal to work with the EFF, claiming the party cannot be controlled by white political interests. Malema rejected claims that the EFF was unsuitable for coalition government because of its political conduct, pointing to the ANC’s own governance challenges.

Despite outlining the circumstances under which the EFF could participate in a coalition government, Malema insisted that the party’s immediate focus remains on winning the upcoming local government elections rather than speculating about future coalition arrangements.