Malema rules out EFF coalitions with DA, Freedom Front Plus
Malema says the party is open to discussions with other parties even if they don't share ideologies
Julius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), has firmly stated that his party will not engage in coalition arrangements with the Democratic Alliance (DA) or the Freedom Front Plus in municipalities. Speaking from the Results Operation Centre in Midrand, Johannesburg, Malema emphasized that the EFF is open to discussions with other parties, regardless of ideological alignment.
He stressed that municipalities belong to the people and not the parties, urging parties to focus on effective governance rather than ideological disagreements. The EFF's performance in the 2026 Local Government Elections was a significant setback, witnessing a drop from 10.31% in 2021 to 6.26%, a reduction of over 612,000 votes, and a fall from third to fourth place nationally.
Much of this decline was concentrated in metropolitan areas. Malema acknowledged the disappointing results, asserting that the party will thoroughly review its performance across municipalities and provinces. He assured that these assessments will inform the EFF's strategy for the 2029 provincial and national elections, promising that lessons learned will be applied to correct setbacks, particularly in metropolitan municipalities where the party has seen growth amidst accountability at the local level.
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