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

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema says the party is not opposed to participating in the Government of National Unity (GNU), provided the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Freedom Front Plus are not part of it.

His comments come after African National Congress (ANC) Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula said the party may need to review its 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, ahead of the local government elections.

Malema was speaking on Sunday in Soweto after conducting a door-to-door campaign ahead of the 4 November local government elections.

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 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.

Helen Zille’s hatred of us is that we’re the only party which cannot be controlled by white people.

He also rejected claims that the EFF was unsuitable for coalition government because of its political conduct, pointing to the ANC’s own governance challenges.

They say they can’t work with chaotic parties, but the ANC is the most chaotic party.

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. I’m not in that space to think what happens after. I don’t know what’s going to happen.