EFF open to coalitions after local government elections

EFF leader Julius Malema says the party will be open to coalition partnerships after the local government elections, which could see his party play a more central role in leadership positions.

Malema said yesterday that the party would engage in coalition talks only on a case-by-case basis in municipalities.

He said the EFF was looking to play a bigger role than it did after the 2016 local government elections.

The EFF had played a role in 2016 when the DA sought partners to enable it to run the City of Johannesburg and the City of Tshwane. When it agreed to coalitions, no members of the EFF took up leadership positions in the metros.

This time, Malema said, the situation would be different.

“And this time around, we are going into coalition government ourselves as the EFF. We think we have amassed the necessary experience, and we have got men and women who are now capable enough to lead successful municipalities. And those coalitions will be based on that.

“Be assured, after these LGEs (local government elections) there will be metros with EFF mayors – either directly or through coalition,” Malema said.

The EFF leader confirmed that his party had met the 9pm Monday deadline to submit its candidates list to the Electoral Commission of SA (IEC).

The EFF will be contesting all 4 468 wards in the country in districts and metropolitan municipalities.

The EFF plans to launch its election manifesto on September 26. Malema said the manifesto would be compiled following extensive consultation with citizens and EFF branches.

He said the government should loosen lockdown restrictions to allow political parties to campaign freely.

The country is scheduled to hold the elections on October 27.

Although this date has been proclaimed, the IEC has approached the Constitutional Court to seek a postponement to February next year.

The apex court has yet to rule on the matter after hearing oral arguments last week.

Malema said the EFF still believed the current conditions – while the third wave of Covid-19 infections continued – were not conducive to elections being held.

He said the party had nevertheless started preparing for the elections, whether they were to be held in October or February. Malema downplayed the lockdown regulations, saying his party would not comply with them.