JOHANNESBURG — Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has strongly defended his party against allegations of misconduct, demanding that the preliminary Madlanga Commission report be made public while dismissing what he described as politically motivated attacks.
Briefing the media, Malema urged South Africans to resist succumbing to what he characterized as “juvenile and politically motivated insinuations” drawn from the ongoing testimonies at the inquiry. He maintained that the commission’s revelations have not damaged the image of the party or its leadership, asserting that there is currently no concrete evidence implicating the EFF in any wrongdoing.
“We remain proud of the fact that, despite all attempts to cast doubt over the organization and its leadership, there is no evidence that ties the EFF to any wrongdoing,” Malema stated.
Calls for Transparency at the Madlanga Commission
A central focus of Malema’s address was the handling of the Madlanga Commission’s findings. He reiterated his call for all preliminary findings and interim reports to be made fully accessible to the public.
Malema argued that these reports do not belong solely to the President of the Republic, but rather to the people of South Africa. He warned that handling the preliminary findings with secrecy undermines the constitutional principle of transparency. Furthermore, he cautioned that such opacity risks selective and politically motivated conduct regarding prosecutions and arrests related to the commission’s work.
Addressing Feroz Khan, Andrea Johnson, and MK Claims
During the briefing, the EFF leader also weighed in on the involvement of suspended deputy crime intelligence head Feroz Khan and former Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) head Advocate Andrea Johnson in the commission’s proceedings.
Malema stated that if Khan has committed any wrongdoing, the Madlanga Commission must hold him accountable. He firmly denied claims made by a member of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, who alleged that Malema had prevented Khan from appearing before a parliamentary committee. “I never did that,” Malema clarified, dismissing the accusations.
Stance on Immigration and Marches
Touching upon the recent wave of immigration marches across the country, Malema outlined the EFF’s position on foreign nationals.
“We don’t want illegal foreigners. We don’t want them. We want them legalized,” he declared. He further noted that the individuals are already present in the country and emphasized that migration issues are not strictly national matters, but are governed by international laws dictating how those individuals should be treated.
Municipal Failures and Local Elections
Looking ahead to the upcoming local government elections, the EFF announced its mayoral candidate. Malema used the opportunity to highlight the party’s service delivery platform, taking direct aim at the current state of local governance.
He criticized municipalities that exist “on paper but fail in practice,” pointing to severe issues such as water shortages, unreliable electricity, sewer spills, uncollected refuse, unsafe roads, unemployment, and collapsing infrastructure. According to Malema, these failures are exacerbated by municipal resources being wasted through corruption, outsourcing, and political patronage.
Western Cape High Court Ruling and President Ramaphosa
Finally, the EFF addressed the recent Western Cape High Court ruling that favored President Cyril Ramaphosa. The party dismissed concerns regarding the outcome of the judgment, arguing that the President should not be treated with “kid gloves” when compared to ordinary citizens of the country. Malema insisted that the law must apply equally to all, including the head of state.
