Malema slams government over budget crisis at Freedom Day rally

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader, Julius Malema, says South Africa is run by illegitimate government leadership.

Addressing scores of community members and party supporters at the Majwemasweu Sports Complex in Winnie Mandela for the party’s Freedom Day rally in the Free State, Malema says the Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, has no power to overrule parliament, as the VAT reversal decision has to be made in parliament.

Malema says the country will continue receiving poor access to health care, education, and ailing infrastructure if the budget is not passed.

Julius Malema says the Government of National Unity (GNU) has failed the people of South Africa. Highlighting the issue of the budget that is crippling the already ailing economy, Malema adds that the VAT reversal can be a ruse that will lead to destruction for the poor.

“Budget? There is no budget, because the Minister of Finance has withdrawn the division of the Revenue Bill and Appropriations Bill, meaning he has to create a new Fiscal Framework to introduce these bills again – that means there is no money allocated for anything in South Africa as we stand here today. Enoch Godongwana wrote a letter to the media this week saying he is reversing the VAT increase,” says Malema.

‘Inferior services’

Julius Malema says the country cannot celebrate Freedom Day with people of the Free State still receiving inferior services. Malema says the town of Winnie Mandela is plagued with sewage spillage, poor service delivery, and low quality of education.

In commemorating the late Winnie Madikizela Mandela, Malema has praised Mandela for her undying fight against apartheid, even after she was banished to Brandfort. Malema has described her as a stalwart fighter for the liberation of Black people.

“When we say that we’re free, we must ask ourselves – where is the land that was taken from us? Apartheid had Bantu education and gave our people inferior education. Today, when we say we’re free, we must ask ourselves – where is the quality free education that we were promised before in 1994? Comrades, what is freedom without justice?”

♦️In Pictures♦️

The EFF President and Commander In Chief @Julius_S_Malema addressing Fighters at the #EFFFreedomDayRally.

We are with the people of the Northern Cape, we are with the leadership of Northern Cape. WE DON’T WANT ORANIA. We don’t want Freedom Front Plus. We don’t… pic.twitter.com/Jy4jM9P4n5

— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) April 27, 2025

Job opportunities

Some of the community members in attendance have highlighted that they want proper services and job opportunities

“One, Malema says we as youth should be employed, and this thing of lack of jobs is a serious problem. Two, the problem is that where we live we are not free so Malema should come and help us because we are not getting services because we are associated with EFF. Lastly, the speech was straight and clear that we must go and mobilise our branches so that when the next elections come, we must be strong,” says a community member.

Malema says they are in support of Northern Cape people but not those living in Orania and FF Plus, labelling them as racists.

WATCH: EFF Freedom Day celebrations