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’s remarks follow comments by DA Johannesburg mayoral candidate Helen Zille, who said she would not enter a coalition with the EFF. The dispute has added to tensions between the parties, which are both part of the GNU, as political parties campaign ahead of the November 4 local government elections.

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. He stated, “We don’t want a GNU that has got murders in it,” asking how the EFF could share government with parties he accused of killing children during the struggle.

Malema said the EFF was focused on winning the elections rather than speculating about possible coalition arrangements in metropolitan municipalities, stating, “Well, we go to elections to win.”