By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader, Julius Malema, has outlined a major shift in the party’s local government strategy, with aim of increasing its appeal with the electorate.
Malema told the briefing in Johannesburg that the new approach is aimed at strengthening grassroots accountability and reducing factionalism ahead of the 2026 local government elections.
He announced that only ward candidates will qualify to become mayors under the party’s revised selection process, signalling a decisive move away from centrally imposed leadership.
He said even candidates who lose ward elections could still be considered for mayoral positions, provided they demonstrate strong performance and community support.
“So the criteria we are going to follow is that people are going to be elected as ward candidates and will choose from amongst ward candidates who’s going to be a mayor. So you can’t be a mayor if you are not an ward candidate or if you are not an award candidate,” he said.
The party will also restructure its Proportional Representation (PR) lists, using them as placeholders that will later be replaced by high-performing ward candidates.
Malema said, there would be no outright winner in any of the metros, except in Cape Town. EFF, he added, would also fight to reduce the DA’s majority in the Cape Town metro.
He said that once the EFF successfully ensured there was no outright winner in the metros, it would guarantee that no party won decisively in the 2029 national elections.
“Without metros, no one can govern this country guaranteed. So, you must choose wisely now for the future.”
Malema said that it was important for the ANC to understand that it would not win an outright majority in the foreseeable future, saying: “Never, never, never again will they win elections outright.”
The ANC should contest elections in partnership with the MK Party and the EFF to reclaim the country for its rightful owners, he said.
Malema also came out strongly in defence of Nkululeko Dunga following criticism of his appointment as Gauteng Finance MEC by Premier Panyaza Lesufi.
The appointment, part of a coalition agreement, has faced opposition from African National Congress (ANC) structures, who have called for Dunga’s removal.
Malema further publicly acknowledged that he knew the late taxi boss Jotham “Mswazi” Msibi through Sandton businessman Ze Nxumalo.
Malema was repeatedly mentioned during suspended National Head of Organised Crime, Richard Shibiri’s testimony at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
The IEC revealed that the total number of registered political parties in the country now stands at 508, following the registration of 20 new parties between October 2025 and February 2026. Of these, 299 are registered nationally, while 209 operate at provincial, district or metropolitan level.