Julius Malema’s EFF surges to 27% in Buffalo City, Ipsos poll finds

A recent Ipsos poll has revealed a significant surge in support for Julius Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, with the party now polling at 27% ahead of the upcoming local government elections scheduled for 4 November 2026.

The study, which interviewed 3,600 South Africans nationally between June and July 2026, highlights a shifting political landscape in the region as parties prepare for the municipal polls.

The EFF is polling at 27% in Buffalo City ahead of South Africa’s 4 November Local Government Elections, according to the latest Ipsos Pulse of the People research.

The EFF has been actively campaigning in the Eastern Cape, recently announcing Mkhululi Dlevu as its mayoral candidate for the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality. The party has also intensified its rhetoric against the current ANC-led administration in the metro, calling for the resignation of Mayor Princess Faku over allegations of academic fraud.

While the ANC remains a dominant force in the region, the rise of the EFF and other challengers like the Patriotic Alliance has created a more competitive environment for the November elections.