leader Julius Malema delivering a keynote address at the party’s Provincial General Assembly in Benoni. Image: Screenshot from @EFFSouthAfrica via X broadcast.
(The Post News)- Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema addressed the Gauteng Provincial General Assembly on November 24, 2024, just a few weeks before the party’s eagerly anticipated 3rd National People’s Assembly, which is set for December 12–15. His speech addressed the themes of betrayal, infiltration, and opportunism within the party, framing recent events as part of a larger historical struggle.
Malema did not hold back when condemning former high-ranking EFF members who resigned and defected to rival organizations. He accused these members of eroding the party’s foundation and prioritizing personal ambition over the movement’s ideological and political goals. The leader claimed the infiltration of the EFF did not begin with these resignations but rather with a culture of entitlement among certain individuals.
Malema said that the members were praised and had been awarded with titles and gave them the political and ideological movement in their hands, and they used the EFF’s trust as a weapon to strike against the very foundation. He went on to describe the departures as a deliberate betrayal, orchestrated by individuals who sought to benefit from the party’s struggle while simultaneously undermining it.
According to Malema, the defectors had pressured the EFF leadership to align with the African National Congress (ANC) in a Government of National Unity (GNU), a move he suggested was driven by the pursuit of positions rather than principles. He made clear his rejection of any suggestion that the EFF should seek alignment with the ANC in the GNU because this would compromise the organization’s principles in the process.
Beyond internal party issues, Malema did not shy away from addressing former president Jacob Zuma, whom he accused of corruption and betrayal of the South African people. He vowed not to sell the future generation of an 82-year-old man who is corrupt to the core, also stating that the EFF had never been misled about Zuma’s corruption.
The EFF’s third National People’s Assembly will serve as a critical forum for the party to assess its position in South African politics following a turbulent year. The Assembly will not only determine the party’s leadership structure but will also set the tone for its strategy in the lead-up to the 2026 national elections.
As the countdown to December begins, the EFF still faces both internal and external challenges, and whether the party can emerge from its Assembly united and reinvigorated remains to be seen.
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