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 (Zille) walks tomorrow, and that other one of Correctional Services, the Freedom Front, (Pieter) Groenewald, walk, we’ll go inside.

Malema made the remarks during a door-to-door election campaign in Naledi, Soweto, ahead of the 4 November local government elections. He emphasized that the party does not play with power and intends to use it to benefit the people.

Malema also rejected claims that the EFF was unsuitable for coalition government because of its political conduct, pointing to the ANC’s own governance challenges. He further stated that the EFF would not support a GNU that included parties he associated with the killing of liberation struggle figures Chris Hani and Solomon Mahlangu.

The EFF leader’s comments followed remarks by DA Johannesburg mayoral candidate Helen Zille, who stated she would not enter a coalition with the EFF. Malema hit back at Zille, claiming the party cannot be controlled by white political interests.