Julius Malema’s party, like the ANC, faces big loss in the South African election.

The leader of South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Julius Malema, has admitted that the new party, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), led by former President Jacob Zuma, did not make the 2024 election easy for them.

“It was fighting, not only against the ruling party but against many puppets of the white racial capital establishment existing as political parties,” Malema told the BBC.

Early tally shows the EFF has lost its status as South Africa’s second-biggest opposition party, polling 9% of the vote behind the MK party.

So far, results from 99% of voting districts have been declared, and for the first time in thirty years, the African National Congress (ANC), which was Nelson Mandela’s party, is having the worst election result since apartheid ended in 1994.

Ready to merge with ANC

Malema says the EFF is ready to form a coalition with the ANC.

“Commend the people of South Africa for voting for the ANC in the ruling majority… We want to work with the ANC… because the ANC, when compromised, is not arrogant,” Malema noted.

He has also set out conditions for forming a coalition with the ANC. Key among these demands is the expropriation of white-owned land without compensation, which he described as a “cardinal principle” of the EFF, stating that the party would not compromise on this issue in any talks with the ANC.

“There are certain fundamental things which are deal breakers,” Malema said. He emphasised the EFF’s willingness to “work with the ANC,” noting, “If there is one party we can work with, it’s the ANC because when the ANC is compromised, they are not arrogant, you can work with them.”

Despite the EFF losing third place in the election to former President Jacob Zuma’s new party, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), Malema graciously described the MK’s performance as “commendable” and “decisive.”

Zuma celebrates milestone

In the KwaZulu-Natal provincial election, the party of former President Jacob Zuma, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), secured 45% of the vote, ousting the African National Congress (ANC) from power.

Nationally, MK garnered around 15%. The party, registered in September, gained significant traction after Zuma endorsed it in December, distancing himself from the ANC due to his rivalry with President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The party has been celebrating its success, with 99% of the vote counted. MK spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela expressed delight, stating, “For a five-month-old baby to be disturbing the political landscape the way we have is just super-remarkable. It has shocked everyone.”

“People initially thought we were a joke but who’s laughing now? We’re the only ones laughing, right?” Ndhlela added.

ANC ready for coalition

While reflecting on the ‘next step’, the African National Congress has refused to celebrate. Its Secretary-General, Fikile Mbalula, said, “We must engage with political parties who are engaging with us – and political parties are engaging with us.”  It is their first outing since the start of the vote-counting process.

The ANC is committed to forming a government that reflects the will of the people, the party’s secretary general has said in the first official comments after the election.

He adds that the party will have a discussion internally first to map out the next steps.

But he says the party will act in the interests of the people.

“We have heard the people’s concerns,” Mbalula said.

The ANC is bent on having Cyril Ramaphosa as its leader. Jacob Zuma said in Saturday, that, he could only form a coalition with the ANC if Ramaphosa resigned.

“If you come to us with a demand that President Cyril Ramaphosa must step down, that is not going to happen,” said Mbalula.

Zuma was dismissed from the ANC after falling out with Ramaphosa.

What happens next?

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has announced that it will only release the election results after addressing complaints filed by other parties.

The results were initially expected this Sunday.

Once the final results from the general election are declared, which is due tomorrow, the new parliament will convene within two weeks.

Typically, this is also when a new president is chosen. If no agreement is reached within a month, a fresh general election will be called.

Gone are the days when the ANC could use its parliamentary majority to elect the president. With only 40% of the new MPs being from the ANC, the party will need the support of MPs from other parties.

Therefore, the choice of a president will be a crucial aspect of coalition government negotiations.

A key question is whether the ANC can secure 50% of MPs’ support to keep Cyril Ramaphosa as president.

© Mimi Mefo Info