EFF
By Thabo Mosia
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has accused President Cyril Ramaphosa of using the National Dialogue initiative to distract from the African National Congress’s (ANC) failures. In a fiery statement, EFF national spokesperson Sinawo Thambo slammed Ramaphosa’s announcement of a National Convention on 15 August 2025, calling it a “meaningless publicity stunt” designed to mask the ANC’s role in South Africa’s economic and social woes.
A Politically Motivated Ploy?
The EFF’s critique centres on Ramaphosa’s launch of the National Dialogue, a citizen-led initiative aimed at forging a new social compact to address challenges like poverty, unemployment, and crime. Thambo argued that the dialogue falsely equates current issues with the post-apartheid transition, when South Africans united to dismantle a system of oppression. “This characterisation is as false as it was when it was made with regards to the political pact referred to as the ‘Government of National Unity’,” Thambo said.
Instead, the EFF claims these challenges stem from “man-made destruction and corruption” led by the ANC since 1994. Thambo pointed to the party’s mismanagement, accusing it of crippling state institutions, undermining the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), and under-investing in law enforcement, leading to “high-levels of unpunished crime.” He also blamed the ANC for relying on foreign investment and austerity measures, which have failed to create jobs or bolster economic growth.
The EFF’s statement aligns with sentiments expressed on social media, where some users have called the dialogue a “masterclass in political distraction” aimed at sidestepping economic reforms like scrapping restrictive labour laws or Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) policies.
Rejection of the Eminent Persons Group
A key point of contention is the Eminent Persons Group appointed to guide the dialogue. Ramaphosa named 32 leading figures, including Dr Brigalia Bam, Siya Kolisi, and His Grace Bishop Barnabas Lekganyane, to champion the process. However, the EFF dismissed these individuals as “ANC-aligned” and lacking eminence, accusing Ramaphosa of rewarding loyalists from his CR17 campaign. “This further cements our position that this is a politically motivated ploy and patronage that rewards the mascots of the ANC,” Thambo said.
The EFF called for a transparent, public nomination process for the group, arguing that public funds should not support a “highly politicised” selection. They specifically urged faith-based leaders like Bishop Barnabas Lekganyane, Bishop Engenas Lekganyane, and uBaba Shembe uNyazi LweZulu to refuse participation in a process that “serves partisan agendas and not national interests.”
This rejection echoes broader political criticism. The EFF previously slammed Ramaphosa’s delegate list as a reward for ANC cronies, reinforcing their view that the dialogue is a tool to shore up ANC support after its electoral decline in 2024.
The National Dialogue: Ramaphosa’s Vision
Ramaphosa announced the National Dialogue on 10 June 2025, describing it as a “people-led, society-wide process” to reimagine South Africa’s future. The initiative, culminating in a National Convention on 15 August 2025, aims to unite government, political parties, civil society, business, labour, traditional leaders, and communities to tackle “deep wounds” like poverty, unemployment, inequality, crime, and gender-based violence.
“It is an opportunity to forge a new social compact for the development of our country,” Ramaphosa said, emphasising that the dialogue draws on South Africa’s history of resolving crises through negotiation, such as the end of apartheid. The process will include local consultations, sector-specific discussions, and provincial engagements, with a second convention planned for early 2026 to adopt a shared vision and action plan.
To ensure coordination, Ramaphosa established an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) chaired by Deputy President Paul Mashatile, a Steering Committee with sectoral representatives, and a Secretariat housed at NEDLAC. The dialogue has garnered support from various societal formations, with Ramaphosa citing its endorsement by leaders across the spectrum.
ANC’s Electoral Setback Fuels Criticism
The EFF’s accusations are rooted in the ANC’s poor performance in the 2024 elections, where it lost its parliamentary majority for the first time since 1994. Thambo argued that South Africans already held a “National Dialogue” at the polls, reducing the ANC to “just one of many political parties” without a mandate to lead. “The question is, why are they not talking to themselves because they are the ones who have broken South Africa?” he asked.
This sentiment resonates with other opposition voices. The EFF has consistently accused Ramaphosa of using initiatives like the National Dialogue to deflect blame for ANC failures, such as corruption scandals, infrastructure collapse, and economic stagnation. The party’s participation in the dialogue, Thambo clarified, is to ensure it does not become an ANC “campaign tool” to “humble” itself after its electoral losses.
Broader Political Context: GNU Tensions and Budget Woes
The National Dialogue controversy unfolds against a backdrop of coalition tensions within the Government of National Unity (GNU). The ANC’s relationship with the Democratic Alliance (DA) has deteriorated, with the DA voting against the 2025 budget over a proposed VAT increase—a move Ramaphosa said defined the DA “outside the GNU.” The EFF, alongside the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, also opposed the budget, citing its austerity measures as harmful to the poor.
The budget, passed on 2 April 2025 with a slim 194-182 margin, exposed cracks in the GNU, with the ANC relying on smaller parties like ActionSA and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP). The EFF’s critique of the dialogue aligns with its broader opposition to ANC policies, including its rejection of a VAT hike, which was later suspended by courts following a joint EFF-DA challenge.
Economic and Social Challenges
The EFF’s statement highlights South Africa’s dire socio-economic landscape, which the National Dialogue aims to address. Unemployment stands at 32.9% (Q1 2025), with youth unemployment exceeding 60%. Poverty affects over 55% of the population, and inequality remains among the world’s highest. Gender-based violence (GBV) cases surged by 8% in 2024, while corruption scandals, like those linked to state capture, continue to erode public trust.
Thambo accused the ANC of allowing multinational corporations to engage in “illicit financial flows” and collapsing industries, leading to factory closures and retrenchments. He also pointed to infrastructure decay, such as load-shedding and water shortages, as evidence of ANC mismanagement. These issues, the EFF argues, cannot be resolved through dialogue alone but require systemic change.
Recent protests, like the ANC Women’s League’s march against GBV in the Free State and the Truth and Solidarity Movement’s call for a national shutdown over a child rape case, underscore public frustration. The EFF has capitalised on these grievances, demanding accountability from Ramaphosa’s administration.
International Dimensions: Trump’s Influence
The EFF’s critique also touches on international relations, particularly Ramaphosa’s efforts to mend ties with the United States under President Donald Trump. The EFF condemned Trump’s travel ban targeting 19 African countries as “racist” and slammed Ramaphosa’s May 2025 U.S. visit as a “waste of time” that compromised South Africa’s sovereignty.
The inclusion of businessman Johann Rupert in Ramaphosa’s U.S. delegation drew EFF ire, with Thambo accusing the ANC of allowing “big business” to control bilateral relations. These criticisms reflect the EFF’s broader anti-imperialist stance, shared with allies like the South African Communist Party (SACP), which has also urged South Africa not to “beg” for U.S. respect.
The EFF’s Strategy: Participation with Vigilance
Despite its scathing critique, the EFF vowed to participate in all National Dialogue activities to prevent the ANC from hijacking the process. “It is up to us the people of South Africa to ensure that this process is not utilised as a campaign tool for the ANC,” Thambo said. The party plans to attend every government program, encouraging South Africans to voice their frustrations directly.
This strategy mirrors the EFF’s approach to other ANC initiatives, such as its opposition to the GNU and budget policies while remaining active in parliamentary debates. By engaging in the dialogue, the EFF aims to amplify its narrative of ANC failure while positioning itself as a champion of the disenfranchised.
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