EFF turns 13: Malema seizes moment as ANC helicopter makes its presence at Thohoyandou event
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) celebrated their 13th anniversary in Thohoyandou, Limpopo, on Saturday, with party leader Julius Malema using the platform to launch the party’s 2026 local government elections manifesto. The event, held at the Thohoyandou Stadium, saw thousands of supporters gather to hear the party’s vision for the upcoming polls.
As Malema addressed the crowd, an ANC helicopter was spotted hovering over the venue, an act perceived by many as a deliberate attempt to disrupt or counter the EFF’s massive rally. Despite the distraction, Malema remained unfazed, continuing his address to the thousands of supporters who had filled the stadium to capacity.
During his speech, Malema unveiled a slate of high-profile mayoral candidates for the country’s biggest metros, signaling the party’s intent to contest the local government elections aggressively. He described the upcoming elections as a critical juncture for the nation, stating:
The collapse of our municipalities and the failure of local government in South Africa are not just about broken pipes, potholes, refuse collection, water and electricity supply. It is about the daily lives and lived experience of our people.
Malema further emphasized the party’s commitment to municipal reform, specifically promising the direct insourcing of municipal workers to eliminate the reliance on tenders and contractors. He argued that this would restore dignity to workers by providing job security, medical aid, and pension benefits.
We are going to build internal capacity and in-source all the workers. Everyone who works in a municipality of the EFF will be employed directly by that particular municipality. We don’t want tenders. We want people to work directly, have an appointment letter, a medical aid, pension fund and also leave days.
The event underscored the growing political rivalry between the EFF and the ANC as both parties prepare for the highly contested local government elections scheduled for later this year.