President Malema
By Nkosana Khumalo
Durban, KwaZulu‑Natal — 16 June 2025 — Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) President and Commander‑in‑Chief Julius Malema will today deliver the keynote address at the #EFFJune16Rally, held at King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi, eThekwini, KwaZulu‑Natal. The event—marking Youth Day—comes at a moment when EFF intensifies efforts to bolster support among young voters and traditional communities in the province.
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A Strategic Youth Day Gathering
The #EFFJune16Rally is expected to draw thousands of young supporters as part of a renewed strategy to strengthen the party’s footprint in KwaZulu‑Natal ahead of next year’s local government elections . Held within the symbolic context of Youth Day’s commemoration of the 1976 youth uprising, the rally underscores Malema’s message of red‑coloured mobilisation—“when you see red in KZN don’t be shocked; your children are here”—highlighting the coming-together of youth and shared cultural heritage .
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Cultural Solidarity: Shembe Church Visit
On Saturday, Malema led the EFF Central Command Team to the Nazareth Baptist Church (iBandla lamaNazaretha) in Nongoma—a pilgrimage to the Lindantonga temple of the Shembe Church. He described the visit as homage to “African spiritual discipline, unity and power,” calling Shembe institutions a testament to resistance against colonial erasure .
He said this faith‑political overlap reinforces the EFF’s ideological narrative:
“Liberation is not only political, it is spiritual, cultural, and generational,”
—Julius Malema .
The gesture amplifies EFF’s intent to connect cultural identity with mobilisation, emphasising respect for spiritual traditions to deepen resonate among rural and traditional communities.
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Reviving Support in KZN’s Urban Areas
In eThekwini’s Umlazi township—the largest in KZN with a population near one million—the EFF aims to restore urban traction. The party secured around 28 000 votes in Umlazi in the 2021 municipal elections but saw a steep drop to 11 000 in the 2024 national poll  .
EFF councillor Thami Xuma, chair of the eThekwini Municipal Public Accounts Committee, is spearheading local mobilisation efforts. He emphasised the importance of on‑the‑ground engagement in informal settlements to reconnect young people with “pro‑poor policies” .
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The June 16 Rally: Themes & Expectations
Venue & Time
• Date: Monday, 16 June 2025 (Youth Day)
• Time: From 12:00—expected heavy youth attendance
• Venue: King Zwelithini Stadium, Umlazi, eThekwini, KwaZulu‑Natal  
Key Themes
• Youth empowerment and mobilisation: Rally to energise young voters
• Cultural identity and spiritual roots: Reinforcing connection via Shembe visit
• Political outreach: Deepening presence in KZN’s township communities
• Red symbolism: EFF’s hallmark “red” theme marking unity and resistance
Political Timing
The event is part of targeted #EFFRedFriday and weekend drive campaigns across eThekwini subregions like Umlazi and Umhlanga . Political analysts view it as a calculated move to regain seats, especially in urban, pro‑poor constituencies where the party underperformed in the 2024 poll .
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