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EFF party leader Julius Malema addresses the media on 04 February 2026.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has urged voters to punish the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the upcoming local government elections for what it calls failure to deliver on basic services.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday at its headquarters in Johannesburg, party leader Julius Malema relayed what came out of the party’s second plenum held over the weekend.
Malema cited ongoing water shortages in Midrand as evidence of municipal collapse under ANC-DA governance.
He says the party will prioritise delivering basic services to residents if elected to govern municipalities.
“We say to the people of Midrand that the people who are governing there in Midrand are the ANC and the DA and they must both collectively be punished in the next local government elections. Under the EFF, government will provide water everywhere, especially in areas like Midrand.”
Mayoral candidates
The party says it will contest the upcoming local government elections with the intention to govern, not merely to influence coalitions.
The EFF has resolved to field its own mayoral candidates across municipalities, including in post-election coalition negotiations.
Malema says the party now has the experience and capacity to run local government structures.
“One of the most prevailing recommended resolutions from the plenum is the decision to field an EFF mayoral candidate in the upcoming local government elections and in any post-election negotiations scenario that may arise. This is a resolution born out of the reality that the EFF now has the necessary experience and capacity to lead municipalities and rescue them from the deadline.”
IEC credibility
The party raised fresh concerns about the credibility of the Independent Electoral Commission local polls.
Malema says the EFF has lost confidence in the IECs ability to conduct free and fair elections, alleging political bias within the institution.
The IEC has previously rejected claims of political interference and maintains it operates independently and impartially.
Malema, however, warns that relying on the IEC poses a risk to democracy.
