“Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema has said his party would consider joining the Government of National Unity if the Democratic Alliance and Freedom Front Plus withdrew, while insisting that the EFF would not abandon its political principles to obtain government positions. The comments, made during an election campaign in Naledi, Soweto, highlight the continuing importance of coalition negotiations, ideological differences and voter mobilisation as South Africa approaches its local government elections.”
South Africa’s political landscape is entering another important phase as parties intensify their campaigns ahead of the local government elections scheduled for 4 November 2026. A major development emerged on 19 October when Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema indicated that his party would consider joining the Government of National Unity (GNU) if the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Freedom Front Plus withdrew from the arrangement. His comments have renewed debate about political cooperation, ideological differences and the balance of power within South African government.
The statement does not mean that the EFF has formally joined the GNU or that the existing coalition partners have agreed to withdraw. Instead, it outlines a condition under which the party says it would be prepared to consider participation. The announcement is significant because coalition politics has become an increasingly important part of South Africa’s governance, particularly as voters assess which parties can work together while delivering practical improvements in their communities.
Malema outlines the EFF’s position
According to a report published by Inside Politics on 19 October, Malema made the remarks during a door-to-door election campaign in Naledi, Soweto. He said the EFF was not opposed to participating in the GNU if the DA and Freedom Front Plus left the arrangement. However, he maintained that the party would not abandon its principles simply to obtain positions in government.
Malema’s statement reflects the EFF’s attempt to distinguish political participation from political compromise. The party has built its public identity around economic transformation, redistribution, employment and advancing the interests of disadvantaged communities. Joining a government involving parties with different ideological priorities would therefore require it to explain how its programme could be implemented without weakening its established positions.
The EFF leader also emphasised that the party intends to contest elections to win rather than treating coalition negotiations as its primary objective. His remarks suggest that electoral success remains the party’s preferred route to political influence, even while it acknowledges that coalition participation could become an option under particular circumstances.
This distinction matters because political parties frequently need to balance their campaign promises against the realities of governing. A party may criticise its opponents during an election while still needing to negotiate with them afterwards if no single organisation secures sufficient support to govern independently.
Why the GNU remains politically important
South Africa’s Government of National Unity emerged after the 2024 national election produced a result that required parties to negotiate a governing arrangement. The ANC, which had dominated national government since 1994, lost its parliamentary majority and entered a new political environment in which cooperation with other parties became essential.
The GNU brought together parties with different policy preferences and political histories. The arrangement created opportunities for shared decision-making but also introduced challenges involving policy disagreements, accountability and the distribution of political authority.
For the EFF, the question of joining such an arrangement is particularly sensitive because its economic programme differs substantially from that of the DA. The parties have frequently disagreed about economic policy, transformation, property, public ownership and the appropriate role of the state.
Malema’s conditional offer therefore raises a fundamental question: can parties with opposing political philosophies cooperate effectively without undermining their identities?
The answer depends not only on the willingness of party leaders to negotiate but also on the specific agreements they reach. Any potential arrangement would need to address policy priorities, decision-making procedures, responsibilities and mechanisms for resolving disputes.
It is important, however, to distinguish Malema’s reported comments from an actual change in the GNU’s composition. The report establishes that the EFF leader expressed conditional willingness to participate; it does not establish that formal negotiations have begun or that the DA and Freedom Front Plus intend to leave.
The DA and the EFF face ideological differences
The relationship between the DA and EFF is central to understanding the political significance of Malema’s announcement. The DA generally promotes market-oriented economic policies, private-sector investment and limits on government intervention in parts of the economy. The EFF advocates more extensive economic restructuring and a stronger role for the state in addressing inequality.
These differences can make cooperation difficult, particularly when policies require agreement on budgets, municipal spending, public employment or the management of public assets.
Inside Politics reported that Malema’s remarks followed opposition from DA Johannesburg mayoral candidate Helen Zille to a municipal coalition with the EFF. Malema responded critically to Zille’s position and argued against the suggestion that the EFF should be excluded from coalition government.
The disagreement illustrates how national political relationships can influence municipal campaigns. Johannesburg is a major economic centre, and its political leadership has consequences for public transport, electricity, water provision, housing, municipal finances and the business environment.
Nevertheless, the national GNU and municipal coalition arrangements are distinct political questions. A party’s willingness to participate in a national government does not automatically establish how it would negotiate a municipal administration. Each arrangement depends on the relevant election results, political circumstances and agreements between participating parties.
Johannesburg becomes a key electoral battleground
The local government elections scheduled for 4 November have placed Johannesburg at the centre of political competition. Parties are seeking support from residents concerned about unemployment, crime, infrastructure and inconsistent municipal services.
During the Soweto campaign, Malema was accompanied by EFF Johannesburg mayoral candidate Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng. According to the report, Mofokeng presented proposals addressing employment, municipal procurement, public safety and service delivery.
The campaign reportedly included commitments to prioritise businesses led by women, young people, people with disabilities and LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs when awarding municipal procurement opportunities. Mofokeng also proposed that young people who complete internships, apprenticeships and learnerships should be employed directly by the municipality.
These proposals seek to connect the party’s political messaging with concerns experienced by residents. For many voters, the practical value of an election is determined by whether the winning administration can create employment opportunities, maintain infrastructure and improve access to essential services.
However, campaign promises must ultimately be measured against municipal budgets, staffing requirements, procurement rules and the municipality’s legal responsibilities. Direct employment proposals, for example, would require a credible assessment of available resources and the number of positions a municipality can sustainably fund.
The EFF will therefore need to demonstrate not only that it understands residents’ concerns but also that its proposed solutions can be implemented within the financial and administrative realities of local government.
Employment and service delivery remain major concerns
Unemployment is a persistent political concern in South Africa, particularly among young people. Parties campaigning for municipal office regularly face demands for credible plans to expand economic opportunities and improve access to skills development.
The EFF’s proposals for employing young people who have completed training programmes are intended to address the gap between acquiring qualifications and finding permanent work. The proposal also connects employment policy with municipal service delivery by suggesting that a stronger workforce could improve the city’s ability to respond to problems.
Nevertheless, municipalities cannot resolve every national employment challenge independently. Their powers and resources are shaped by legislation, intergovernmental arrangements, municipal revenue and the division of responsibilities between local, provincial and national government.
The same principle applies to water and electricity problems. Malema and Mofokeng reportedly highlighted water meter difficulties, electricity interruptions and the need for reliable public transport. These are important issues for households and businesses, but meaningful improvements require operational planning, infrastructure maintenance, sound procurement and financial accountability.
Political parties must explain how they intend to finance their programmes and how residents will be able to evaluate their performance. Transparent targets, regular progress reports and accessible public information would help voters determine whether promises are translating into results.
Crime and public safety enter the campaign debate
Public safety was another issue raised during the EFF’s Soweto campaign. Residents reportedly expressed concern about crime and feeling unsafe in their neighbourhoods.
Malema proposed strengthening the visibility and effectiveness of the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department. The report also records his acknowledgement that municipal authorities do not control the national police service, although they have responsibilities relating to municipal policing.
This distinction is important because responsibilities for public safety are distributed across different institutions. Municipal police can perform functions within their legal mandate, while the South African Police Service retains its own responsibilities for criminal investigations and broader policing.
A credible municipal safety strategy would therefore require coordination between relevant agencies, appropriate staffing, reliable reporting systems and engagement with affected communities. Residents also need accessible ways to report crime and receive information about responses to local safety problems.
For the EFF, presenting a practical public safety programme could be important in attracting voters who want stronger policing alongside improvements in employment and infrastructure.
Coalition politics and political accountability
Malema’s remarks also highlight the difficult choices political parties face when considering coalitions. Entering government can provide opportunities to influence policy, but it can also expose a party to criticism when decisions fall short of its campaign commitments.
Coalition agreements can help manage these risks by specifying shared objectives, responsibilities and dispute-resolution procedures. Without such arrangements, ideological differences may produce instability and undermine public confidence.
At the same time, excluding parties solely because their political views differ from those of established governing partners can create questions about representation and the range of choices available to voters. Democratic competition requires parties to explain their positions and allow citizens to judge their suitability for office.
Malema’s conditional position does not settle the debate over whether the EFF and DA could work together. Rather, it demonstrates that political participation depends on the terms under which parties are prepared to cooperate.
Voters will need to distinguish between statements made during campaigns and agreements that have actually been negotiated. Political rhetoric can signal a party’s intentions, but formal arrangements require further decisions and confirmation from the parties involved.
What happens next?
The immediate test for the EFF is whether it can translate its campaign message into electoral support and present credible plans for municipal administration. Its performance in the 4 November elections will help determine the opportunities available to it in municipal coalition negotiations.
The DA, ANC, EFF and smaller parties must also convince voters that their programmes can address local challenges. Election outcomes may require cooperation between organisations that disagree strongly on national ideology but share certain municipal priorities.
Malema’s statement may become relevant to future discussions about the GNU, but it should not be interpreted as confirmation of an imminent government reshuffle. Any change would depend on decisions by the parties concerned and the relevant political processes.
For now, the EFF’s position demonstrates the continuing significance of coalition politics in South Africa. The central issue is not simply which parties can enter government, but whether they can agree on policies that improve public services, create economic opportunities and strengthen accountability.
Conclusion
The EFF’s conditional willingness to join the Government of National Unity if the DA and Freedom Front Plus withdraw has added another dimension to South Africa’s political debate ahead of the local government elections. Malema has presented participation as a possibility that must remain consistent with the party’s principles, while the Soweto campaign has focused attention on employment, crime, infrastructure and municipal service delivery.
The coming election will provide voters with an opportunity to assess the parties’ proposals and decide which organisations deserve their support. Whether the EFF eventually participates in any new coalition arrangement remains uncertain. What is clear is that effective governance will require more than electoral slogans: it will depend on workable agreements, transparent spending, capable administration and measurable improvements in residents’ daily lives.
