EFF Leader Julius Malema
By Thabo Mosia
Cape Town – EFF leader Julius Malema has hailed KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, as a hero and offered him a position in the EFF amid ongoing corruption allegations in the South African Police Service. Speaking at the party’s 12th anniversary celebrations in Khayelitsha, Malema urged more police officials to stand up against crime syndicates and drugs ravaging communities, promising unwavering support for those who expose the rot.
Mkhwanazi’s Bold Stand Against Corruption
Malema’s praise comes after Mkhwanazi made shocking claims earlier this month, accusing top police officials, including Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, of deep involvement in corruption and collusion with criminal gangs. On July 6, during a press briefing, Mkhwanazi revealed digital evidence, such as WhatsApp messages, showing how Mchunu allegedly received payments from a corruption suspect and had ties to criminal elements. He specifically charged that Mchunu unilaterally disbanded the Political Killings Task Team, a unit set up to probe assassinations linked to political rivalries in KwaZulu-Natal, and redirected 121 active investigation dockets to the office of National Deputy Commissioner Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya. These files, according to Mkhwanazi, were then neutralised, allowing suspects to evade justice and perpetuating a cycle of violence and impunity.
Mkhwanazi also alleged that Mchunu misled Parliament about his relationship with Brown Mokgotsi, an associate who reportedly had unauthorised access to classified police information. The commissioner painted a picture of systemic rot, claiming that corruption extended to the judiciary and even politicians, with criminal syndicates controlling key aspects of law enforcement. In response, President Cyril Ramaphosa placed Mchunu on special leave on July 13 and launched an independent probe into the claims, appointing Deputy Minister Polly Boshielo to act in his stead. Malema criticised this move as insufficient, calling it “clownish” and demanding Mchunu’s immediate firing to avoid wasting public funds on dual ministerial roles.
“We say to Mkhwanazi, do not be shaken because if they fire you, there is a position for you in the EFF so that we can continue to fight corruption in South Africa,” Malema declared. “General Mkhwanazi should know that there is only one home for the fearless and that home is the EFF.” He positioned the EFF as a haven for brave individuals fighting against corporate and political corruption, emphasising that the party has set up an ad hoc committee in Parliament to probe all allegations raised by Mkhwanazi and related issues.
Malema invited residents from areas like Mitchells Plain to testify before the committee about drug lords and their protectors, urging them to reveal sources of illegal guns in the Cape Flats and Khayelitsha. “You the people know the truth. This is the time. This is the platform to expose the rot. Do not be scared. The killing of our children must be stopped now. Mkhwanazi opened the way. We must join Mkhwanazi and restore peace and order in South Africa.”
Honouring the Past: EFF’s 12th Anniversary in Khayelitsha
The celebrations marked 12 years since the EFF’s founding on July 26, 2013, at Uncle Tom’s Hall in Soweto, where thousands gathered to launch a movement for the marginalised, landless, unemployed, and oppressed. Malema reminded the crowd that the EFF was born from conviction and the urgent cries of the people, not boardroom deals or political convenience. Its core pillars – expropriation of land without compensation, nationalisation of mines, banks, and key sectors, free quality education, healthcare, and sanitation – remain unchanged because the inequalities that sparked them persist.
“Today we gather here not just to celebrate a milestone in the life of a political movement but to honour a revolutionary journey that has shaped South African politics, disrupted the complacency of the ruling elite and planted the seed of hope in the hearts of millions who had long been forgotten by a democracy they helped to create,” Malema said.
The event was held in Khayelitsha, one of Cape Town’s largest townships with over a million residents, to honour 12 EFF members who perished in a tragic bus crash on June 17. The accident occurred on the R34 near Vryheid in KwaZulu-Natal, as supporters returned from a Youth Day commemoration at King Zwelithini Stadium. A head-on collision between their bus and a truck claimed 12 lives and injured more than 30 others. Malema led a moment of silence for the victims, noting the venue shift was in their memory. The party has since visited bereaved families, provided support, and attended mass funerals on June 22, where Malema vowed ongoing assistance.
Khayelitsha’s history mirrored the EFF’s fight, Malema said, tracing it back to colonial dispossession in 1652 under Jan van Riebeeck, through apartheid-era forced relocations in the 1980s, to ongoing neglect under Democratic Alliance (DA) rule post-1994. He accused the DA of perpetuating racial inequality, pointing to potholes, bucket toilets, blackouts, and lack of housing, buses, and trains in black townships like Khayelitsha, Gugulethu, Nyanga, and Langa.
“Fighters, the DA continually boast that Western Cape is one of the best run cities. But if you go to Khayelitsha, you will know that DA is lying,” he said. Malema slammed former DA leader Helen Zille for claiming better service in Khayelitsha than Camps Bay, calling it a blatant falsehood. He urged voters to oust the DA in the 2026 local elections, promising the EFF would clean up the mess and restore dignity.
Reviving Unresolved Scandals and Criticising Rivals
Malema revived the Phala Phala scandal, insisting Parliament’s ad hoc committee would link it to police corruption. “Comrades, they think that Parliament is going to be a rubber stamp of the ANC. It will not happen. As long as the EFF is in that ad hoc committee, we are there and we’re going to make sure that this does not become another section 89 report which they priced away where they said the president has got a case to answer. That Phala Phala issue is not dead. We’re going to find a way of bringing it into this ad hoc committee because even in that Phala Phala there was police corruption that happened and classified the report of Phala Phala is still alive. Why? Because the EFF is still alive. For as long as the EFF is still alive, there is no politician who will hide behind SAPS or parliament.”
He accused the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) of disorganisation, highlighting their confusion in Parliament where they rejected budgets but supported the Appropriation Bill. “Fighters, we need to unite our organisation. Without a united EFF, there will never be a strong opposition in South Africa. For sure, you saw yesterday or a day before what happened in Parliament. The so-called official opposition did not know whether they are going or coming but the EFF rescued the situation and led from the front.”
Economic Struggles and Calls for Radical Change
Malema painted a grim picture of South Africa’s economy, growing at a mere 0.58% while China hits 5% and Africa averages 3.9%. He blamed high unemployment (over 43%, especially among youth), racial inequality, and financialisation dominated by six major banks holding R12 trillion in assets, none controlled by black people. These institutions, he said, dictate loans, insurance, and business funding, deepening poverty in townships.
He warned of creeping privatisation of state-owned enterprises like Transnet and Eskom through defunding and asset sales, contrasting it with nationalisation trends in the UK and US. South Africa’s debt crisis, with R420 billion spent on interest alone this year, was tied to shady IMF and World Bank loans. The EFF plans amendments to the Public Finance Management Act to require parliamentary approval for such loans.
“We are a product of the pain of domestic workers, gardeners, cleaners, rock drill operators, petrol attendants, and the forgotten masses of our people,” Malema said, referencing the Marikana massacre as a turning point.
EFF’s Achievements and Future Vision
Over 12 years, the EFF has transformed Parliament into a battleground, popularising terms like “point of order” and exposing scandals like Bosasa and the National Lottery. It led insourcing at universities and hospitals, supported Fees Must Fall students, and established a gender-based violence desk. Women lead key roles, reflecting the party’s commitment.
Malema called for direct NSFAS payments to students’ accounts to teach financial responsibility, criticising Minister Blade Nzimande’s department as corrupt. He urged branch formations before year-end for 2026 councillor contests, rejecting opportunism.
Internationally, the EFF stands with Western Sahara against Morocco, Palestine against Israel (demanding embassy closure), Cuba against embargoes, and Kenya’s youth protesters. It supports leaders like Ibrahim Traoré in the Sahel and Ian Khama in Botswana for African unity and removing foreign bases.
Rejecting Extortion and Dialogue Costs
Malema condemned extortion rackets in construction and communities, sharing how the EFF rebuffed demands during event setup. He rejected President Ramaphosa’s proposed national dialogue, costing R700 million, as wasteful when Parliament already serves that purpose. “Take the 700 million, pay for free education… make sure our children benefit from proper feeding scheme. Buy them school uniform and give them uniform for free.”
The speech ended with chants like “Amandla” and “Down with ANC, down with DA,” underscoring the EFF’s militant spirit. As the party eyes 2026 victories, Malema stressed unity and service: “You have built a strong weapon in the hands of the poor of the poorest… Let the red flag fly high everywhere in South Africa.”
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