THE Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) recently  marked its 10th anniversary in grand style with a vibrant and well-attended celebration at the FNB Stadium in Soweto. The event, dubbed: 10 Years of Unbroken Struggle for Economic Freedom, saw over 90 000 passionate EFF supporters from all South Africa’s nine provinces coming together to commemorate this significant milestone.

The highlight of the occasion was the charismatic speech delivered by party leader, Julius Malema and a well-choreographed stint of calling on all South Africans to stand with him as the podium he stood on ascended while he held up his fist.

That image will probably be remembered and replayed many times for many years to come as it marked a historic moment for opposition politics not only in South African, but across Africa where opposition politics has never really been able to challenge the status quo.

In his address, Malema demonstrated his commitment not only to addressing South Africa’s domestic challenges but also to position EFF as a pan-African force which seeks to empower ordinary Africans. EFF showed that it does have their ears and their hearts on the pulse, and Malema’s speech strikingly reflected the lived reality of ordinary South Africans. He talked about the most important and pressing socio-economic and political challenges faced by citizens, such as corruption, unemployment, injustice, reconciliation, education, health and political instability on the African continent.

He expressed a deep understanding of the daily struggles and aspirations of the people in South Africa. The EFF’s self-acclaimed commitment to championing the interests of ordinary Africans, coupled with its empathetic approach to domestic issues, reaffirmed its position as a formidable political force with a tangible connection with the hopes and dreams of the nation. Malema’s promise of free education up to tertiary level and the eradication of historical student debts resonated strongly with young people burdened by the legacy of apartheid’s inequalities.

While this move has the potential to alleviate the burdens faced by many people as a result of apartheid’s legacy, many people have, however, expressed concern about the feasibility of these policies and their implementation. It is quite clear that some people viewed these promises as populist stances and campaign strategies.

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Currently, South African universities, particularly the historically disadvantaged universities, are struggling to recover billions of rands owed by tens of thousands of students who were either funded by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) or did not have any sort of funding in tertiary institutions. Another major hindrance is the fact that many graduates in South Africa remain unemployed. This poses a challenge because funds are vital for institutions to function and be competitive.

Malema also talked about the severe challenge of unemployment in the Rainbow nation, especially among the youths. He promised to create meaningful jobs for the country’s young population and expressed his intention to remove individuals employed under the Premier of Gauteng Panyaza Lesufi’s jobs initiative known as Nas’ispani, which he criticised as a ploy for ANC votes rather than a genuine employment initiative. He said because youths under the programme were being offered stipends and not salaries implied that this was an ANC exploitation and campaign gimmick.

While tackling unemployment is essential for the country’s socio-political stability, there may be challenges in effectively implementing this promise. This also appears as part of EFF’s own election campaign and populist rhetoric seeking to speak directly to the downtrodden and docile electorates.

The question of land redistribution and EFF’s position on expropriation of land without compensation and equal redistribution was also a key focus of Malema’s speech, with EFF vowing to nationalise land, including residential, agricultural, mines and all strategic sectors of the economy, without compensation. This has been a very consistent stance of the party’s commitment to rectifying historical injustices, but it may raise concerns about property rights, which are key drivers of investment and economic stability for the country.

Notably, Malema and his organisation have been very strategic in perfectly positioning themselves regionally. Firstly, the party claimed that Malema was requested by the people of Marikana to establish a political organisation after the Marikana massacre which saw 34 mine workers die at the hands of the South African Police Services. The organisation launched in Marikana, and again in this 10th-anniversary celebration, the party went back there to pay homage and commemorate and pay tribute to the 34 miners who lost their lives and emphasised that their struggles form the foundation of the party’s ideology. He also promised to arrest President Cyril Ramaphosa once the party is in government.

Secondly, we have seen how Malema has aligned EFF with the Cuban Socialist party, and how he is never shy to acknowledge the impact of Fidel Castro and Che Guevara on his leadership and the position of EFF. The party was launched on the same day as the 60th commemoration of the 26th July movement, which is named after a failed attack on the Batista regime by guerrillas led by Castro. Even the policies and ideological position of the party are Socialist, Marxist, Leninist and Fanonian, which might be complex for many.

Additionally, he underlined the party’s connection to Cuban ideology, showcasing EFF’s commitment to diverse perspectives.

EFF has a footprint in regional issues emanating from Malema’s robust debates in the Pan African Parliament. In his speech, he criticised Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga for allegedly destabilising the country for political gain and being a populist. This has, however, led some to argue that his views betray his inconsistency, especially when Malema himself has also led such marches as #NationalShutDown in South Africa.

Therefore, now he appears as if he wants people to oppose and disrupt their ruling parties only on his terms and conditions.

Furthermore, he called on President Emmerson Mnangagwa, to allow fair elections without interference in the coming elections. He also advocated peace in several African nations, reaffirming the party’s commitment to Pan-Africanism and the vision of a united Africa with a shared military, currency and leadership. This sounded exactly like the late President of Libya Muammar Gaddafi when he spoke about the United States of Africa. The main concern African leaders have continuously failed to address is which country shall the president come from and how will the electoral commission and the structure of the economy look like. The call has thus fizzled into rhetoric meant to appease Africans.

On the international front, Malema spoke unequivocally against Western imperialism through the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) and candidly noted his party’s support of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a means of protecting itself from being surrounded by Nato military bases. He called on all Brics leaders to boycott the Brics summit as a matter of solidarity with President Vladimir Putin, who is unable to attend the summit because of a warrant of arrest which has been issued by the International Criminal Court for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Malema posited that Putin might the West’s target today, but in the future, any of the Brics statesmen could be targeted. Thus, it is important to rebel and call out the Western imperialists.

Mirroring the late former Zimbabwean leader President Robert Mugabe, Malema told the West: “You can keep your AGOA, and we will keep our friendship with Russia.”

AGOA (African Growth Opportunity Act) is a United States of America’s Act that facilitates affordable trading between African countries and the US. It is also responsible for imports of produce and investment countries in Africa receive from America. This assertive position illustrates EFF’s proclaimed independence from external influence and its willingness to foster alliances based on shared interests.

In conclusion, EFF’s 10th-anniversary celebration was a vibrant display of its commitment to economic freedom and Pan-African ideals. While some of the promises and stances may raise feasibility concerns and require critical engagement, the event showcased EFF’s determination to challenge the status quo and bring about meaningful change. And most importantly, without fear of contraction, EFF has changed the tide of politics and political representation in South Africa and in Africa.

Nyasha Mcbride Mpani is project leader for the Data for Governance Alliance at the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation based in Cape Town. Yolokazi Mfuto is a civil society liaison officer at the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria, South Africa.
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