EFF growing up so fast

ANY PARENT will tell you what a joy a fouryear-old is. The terrible twos are over and so too are the dreaded threes. four-year-old is said to be great company. They can be very curious, make intelligent conversation at times and have the ability to interact well.

They question almost anything and everything. And while they can be a source of great entertainment, they also possess the ability to inspire and might even listen to reason.

These are all characteristics of the EFF as it celebrates its fourth birthday.

The party Julius Malema leads turns four this week and it has taken its celebrations to Durban.

Malema started the EFF after he was expelled from the ANC for sowing division in the party.

Back then he was president of the ANC Youth League. His ousting was chiefly for his audacity to take on ANC president Jacob Zuma.

The ANC leadership could not contain the feisty Malema who turned on Zuma not long after he had expressed his preparedness to die for Zuma.

MALEMA started his own party, the EFF, taking along with him countless young people who had become fed up with the ANC.

In the last general elections in 2014, the EFF received more than a million votes or just more than 6% of the vote.

That made it the third-biggest opposition party in Parliament, a fantastic showing for a party with no resources.

The EFF has changed the political landscape and the way Parliament operates. It has not always been pleasant to watch, but it has been effective.

Unlike Cope, which was established by disgruntled ANC members after Zuma replaced then ANC leader Thabo Mbeki, the EFF grew in leaps and bounds.

Under Malema’s leadership the party continues to appeal to young people. It talks their language, it understands and stays in touch with the youth.

The same cannot be said for other parties.

Of late, the EFF is showing a maturity well beyond its age and so too is Malema.

As the EFF celebrates its fourth birthday – a milestone, there is no doubt it has strengthened our democracy.