Malema
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema fired a sharp response on Monday, 15 September 2025, to ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa’s admission that Democratic Alliance (DA)-run municipalities often outperform those led by his own party, calling it a self-inflicted wound that embarrasses the ANC. Speaking after Ramaphosa’s address to over 4,600 ANC councillors at the FNB Stadium in Soweto, Malema accused the president of throwing his party “under the bus” before it could do the same to him, like past leaders.
EFF national spokesperson Sinawo Thambo echoed this, saying Ramaphosa’s frankness leaves the ANC “low on morale and publicly embarrassed,” while boosting his personal legacy as a man of integrity. “Ramaphosa threw the ANC under the bus before it could throw him under the bus like his predecessors,” Thambo stated. He added that when Ramaphosa’s term ends—“be it ceremoniously or otherwise”—he will be remembered as honest, but the party faces “irreparable reputational damage with him as a confirmatory source. It is a master stroke for his personal legacy.”
Ramaphosa’s candid words during the historic roll call meeting—part of a weekend National Executive Committee (NEC) session in Boksburg—marked a turning point for the ANC, urging members to learn from DA successes in places like Cape Town and Stellenbosch ahead of the 2026 local elections. The DA celebrated the nod, with federal leader Helen Zille tweeting that “DA gets things done,” highlighting their clean audits and reliable services. Malema’s retort underscores the deepening rift between the EFF and ANC, with the opposition party using the moment to rally supporters frustrated by service failures in ANC areas.
Ramaphosa’s Blunt Admission: A Wake-Up Call for ANC Councillors
In his fiery speech to the packed stadium, Ramaphosa did not mince words about the ANC’s shortcomings. He admitted the pain of seeing auditor-general reports where DA municipalities shine with clean audits and steady services, while many ANC-led ones lag with disclaimers and delays. “It is hugely painful each time when the auditor general comes to report to cabinet and they put up their report and those municipalities that do best are not ANC-controlled municipalities…
They are often DA-controlled municipalities,” Ramaphosa said. He urged his party to swallow pride and study rivals: “We need to ask ourselves what is it that they are doing that is better than what we are doing. And there’s nothing wrong with us saying we want to go and see what Cape Town is doing. We want to go and see what Stellenbosch is doing. How do they craft everything? We need to be moving up the ladder of being good at what we do. We cannot forever stay at the bottom.”
The event, dubbed a “roll call,” required councillors to account for their work since 2021, amid public fury over potholes, water shortages, and uncollected rubbish.
Ramaphosa laid out a new Service Delivery and Infrastructure Action Plan, adopted by the NEC, with five pillars: putting people first, building infrastructure, strengthening institutions, reconnecting with communities, and driving local economies. He demanded quick wins: “By the end of the next 100 days, visible progress must be registered in core service delivery areas. Potholes must be repaired. Refuse must be collected on schedule. Water leaks must be fixed without delay. And street lights must be functional.”
Drawing from Cuba’s vigilant local leaders, Ramaphosa called for councillors to know every ward detail and respond first to crises. “The people of Cuba have the most beautiful system… If somebody passes away in the area, we should be the first to know. If a child is raped, we should be the first to go and knock at the door.” He slammed infighting and parallel structures: “Acts of disruption like we’ve seen in other councils where for instance two parallel structures of a council are set up. Two mayors, two municipal managers, two speakers. That must come to an end.”
Corruption got a hard hit: no protection for the guilty, and obstructive officials must go. “If cleared decisions have been taken… there’s only one way out and the way out is the door… if they want the window they can go through the window as well.” Factionalism is “treason,” he warned, urging unity. The ANC has signed more SIU proclamations than ever to probe graft.
Malema’s Retort: A Self-Goal for Ramaphosa and ANC Legacy
Malema, speaking from the EFF’s headquarters in Johannesburg, called Ramaphosa’s praise for the DA a “master stroke” for his image but a disaster for the ANC. “Ramaphosa scored own goals,” Malema said, arguing the president prioritised personal honesty over party loyalty. Thambo added that it leaves the ANC “publicly embarrassed” and low on morale, with Ramaphosa emerging “as the man of integrity” while the party suffers “irreparable reputational damage.”
The EFF, ANC’s fiercest rival, sees this as weakness ahead of 2026 polls, where service failures could cost seats. Malema mocked the timing: “Ramaphosa threw the ANC under the bus before it could throw him under the bus like his predecessors.” He tied it to the NEC’s Boksburg meeting, where Ramaphosa slammed corruption as the “elephant” in the room, citing Ditsobotla in North West—under administration multiple times—as a failure where businesses fled, killing jobs.
Malema’s barbs fit the EFF’s narrative of ANC decline, pushing radical land and economic reforms. With 9.5% in 2024 elections, the EFF eyes gains in metros like Johannesburg, where coalitions teeter.
DA’s Victory Lap: ‘We Get Things Done’
The DA lapped up the praise, with Zille posting on X: “DA gets things done.” Federal Council chair Helen Liebenberg said Ramaphosa’s words validate their model of clean governance and efficiency. In Cape Town, DA Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis highlighted 98% clean audits and reliable water, contrasting ANC spots like eThekwini with sewage spills.
The DA, in GNU nationally, governs key metros and Western Cape, crediting merit-based hires and anti-corruption drives. “Ramaphosa’s honesty shows even the ANC sees our success,” Liebenberg said. But DA critics note their areas face inequality too, like informal settlements in Cape Town.
ANC’s Plan: 100 Days to Deliver or Face the Boot
Mbalula, briefing media post-speech, set a 100-day deadline for basics. “Councillors are expected to spend less time in offices and more time among the people,” he said. Door-to-door visits, clean-ups, and public meetings are mandatory. A digital barometer tracks progress, with quarterly reports.
The plan renews the 2021 Ekurhuleni Pledge, focusing on indigent support (R70 billion guarded for the poor), infrastructure repairs, and economic hubs. “Municipalities as economic reservoirs,” Ramaphosa said, citing Durban’s revival drawing billions.
Failure means removal: “Those who fail to meet the standards… will be removed.” Syndicates and captured leaders get hunted: “We are going to go after those syndicates.”
Ramaphosa addressed US tariffs threatening jobs, but stressed local fixes: light cities for G20 in November.
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