Julius Malema’s EFF surges to 27% in unexpected municipality, claims latest poll

A recent poll conducted by Ipsos ahead of the November 4 local government elections has revealed a significant surge in support for the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality.

According to the data, the EFF has reached 27% support in the metro, a figure that places the party in a strong competitive position as it prepares to challenge the traditional dominance of the ANC and the DA in the region.

EFF support is concentrated in Buffalo City. Although support for the EFF varies across metros, it reaches 27% in Buffalo City, substantially higher than elsewhere. This places the party in a strong competitive position in the metro.

The findings suggest that the upcoming local government elections in Buffalo City will be highly contested, with the ANC and DA also vying for control of the 100-seat council. While the ANC currently holds an outright majority in the metro, the rise of the EFF and the presence of numerous other political parties and independent candidates indicate that the political landscape is shifting.

Ipsos has noted that results for Buffalo City should be interpreted with caution due to relatively small sample sizes, but the trend highlights the EFF’s growing influence in the area. The party has already deployed Mkhululi Dlepu as its mayoral candidate for the municipality to capitalize on this momentum.