MAMELODI, PRETORIA — With the 2026 local government elections on the horizon, Julius Malema has affirmed that the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) are resolutely positioned to win and independently run municipalities. The party leader emphasized that taking direct control of local councils is the most effective pathway to addressing youth unemployment and driving grassroots economic development.
During a visit to monitor the opening day of the first voter registration weekend in Mamelodi, the EFF leader used the platform to mobilize the youth. He issued a direct appeal to young citizens to secure their democratic participation by registering at physical stations or via the Independent Electoral Commission’s (IEC) digital portal to ensure their names are officially added to the voters’ roll.
Localized Procurement and Economic Empowerment
At the core of the party’s municipal blueprint is a shift toward localized economic empowerment. Malema argued that local councils possess the inherent capacity to generate sustainable employment for young people. Furthermore, he highlighted a strict policy preference for utilizing municipal procurement to uplift small, community-based businesses.
Rather than outsourcing essential services to external contractors outside their jurisdiction, the party advocates for keeping municipal revenue circulating within the community. The funds generated from residents paying for local services should be reinvested directly into the local economy, benefiting the very people who contribute to the municipal tax base. According to Malema, the ultimate goal is to take over municipalities directly as the EFF and govern them with this localized economic focus.
Navigating Coalition Dynamics
Addressing the complex landscape of multi-party governance, the EFF leader dismissed suggestions of fractured relationships with other political formations, specifically the African National Congress (ANC). He noted that the essence of a coalition relies on continuous, permanent consultation—a practice he claims his party navigates seamlessly.
He shifted the focus of consultation challenges onto the ANC, stating that the governing party is the one that historically struggles to consult with coalition partners. Malema insisted that the ANC must clarify its own strategy moving forward, while maintaining that in instances where the EFF does not outright govern, the party collaborates effectively and works very well with all political formations.
Pragmatic Service Delivery Over Ideology
Looking at the day-to-day realities of running a city or town, Malema stressed that local governance is fundamentally disconnected from high-level political ideology. Instead, it is strictly concerned with the practical realities of daily life—fixing potholes, ensuring access to taps, and building toilets.
He framed access to these basic amenities as undeniable human rights issues. Questioning the logic of partisan blockades, he asked why any political party would deny a community access to a functioning toilet or a tap of clean water simply due to ideological disagreements. For the EFF, mastering these basic service delivery metrics without ideological interference remains the central pillar of their push for direct municipal control.