Free State -
As Julius Malema stepped into the University of the Free State in Mangaung for the Economic Freedom Fighters’ national congress on Saturday, he would have cast his eyes around the campus with mixed emotions.
Firstly, his return would have been one of the most nostalgic moments in his political career, if not life.
As he strode along the university grounds, Malema probably recalled that it was here that he was first elected unopposed as the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) president six years ago, replacing his friend-turned-foe Fikile Mbalula.
That period epitomised the apex of his political career.
Simultaneously, Malema would also have thought about his expulsion from the ANC almost three years ago.
The menacing flashes of President Jacob Zuma’s face would have crossed his mind as the man ultimately responsible for his purging from the ANC in March 2013.
For then, his political obituary seemed cast in stone and stories about his rise and fall were part of the dominant political discourse.
But Malema would have been thrilled by the sight of the throngs of people embracing him and ready to elect him unopposed as the EFF’s leader.
He would also been buoyed by ANC stalwart Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s statements wishing that one day he could be accepted back in the organisation.
“Instead of resigning myself to the fate of total annihilation,” he would have thought to himself, “I bide my time to plot for revenge.”
The sweet vengeance for Malema would have come in the form of how he has led the charge by the EFF’s red brigade in shaking Parliament to its core foundations since May this year.
Until the EFF made its debut there, Parliament had predominantly remained a supreme and bureaucratic institution far detached from ordinary citizens.
Apart from the popular mantras of “Pay back the money!”, the EFF’s revolution in Parliament has also been demonstrated through its bright red overalls and pinafores.
As Malema himself notes, Parliament has been transformed from its elitist and exclusive outlook into a people-centred institution.
“It is a fact that since the arrival of the EFF in Parliament, it has become a robust institution, discussing relevant questions, holding the executive to account, and passing legislation after thorough interrogation,” Malema says.
He would also have been heartened by the fact that he contributed to the reduction of the ANC’s majority rule after the EFF garnered more than one million votes in the May national elections.
The EFF’s relative success since its launch at Marikana late last year has largely been aided by the numerous aggravating factors militating against the ANC. At the heart of the EFF’s policy, for instance, is the process of nationalisation, which is the economic currency of the governing party’s own much-celebrated Freedom Charter.
With the political landscape in South Africa filled with turbulent young people who are restless with the quandaries of joblessness and exclusion from the mainstream economy, the EFF ably presented itself as a new home for the wretched and deprived masses.
Using his unflinching militancy and ultra-nationalist rhetoric, Malema went about tapping into their anger to win hearts – and votes.
As Malema himself put it this week, the EFF has made some “giant strides… growing to be a force to be reckoned with and such is due to its commitments and relentless programme to politically defeat the political representatives of white monopoly capital”.
That the EFF has shaken, relatively, the ANC is shown by the response of the governing party and its allies in the tripartite alliance, notably the SA Communist Party. Suddenly the names of erstwhile dictators such as Germany’s Adolf Hitler and Italy’s Benito Mussolini have been used to describe Malema and his red brigades in the EFF.
In addition, the words “fascists” and “racists” have featured increasingly alongside each other with every attack on the DA and EFF by the ANC, as the latter’s status was elevated almost to the same level as the official opposition.
But as Malema soon found out, a political party formed hastily out of anger and vengefulness - with no recognisable structures and constituencies - was going to encounter problems along the way.
The EFF held its first elective congress against the backdrop of growing unhappiness and internal strife.
Some of the provincial congresses, notably in the Northern Cape, were marred by violence where members reportedly armed with machetes, pangas and bricks fought against each other.
Disgruntled members accusing Malema of dictatorship have also formed factions and splinter groups.
And while Malema is poised to be elected unopposed as commander-in-chief, fears have been expressed that the congress might degenerate into violence.
It’s a grim outlook the party is aware of, as shown by its decision to hire a private security company to man the conference venue - albeit Malema sought to dismiss this as opportunism.
“Of course in the process of building a giant movement, we were bound to encounter staff riders who individually and at times collectively join the EFF to pursue their individual and failed organisational causes within the EFF.
“The EFF is not, and will never be, a breeding ground for criminals and thugs… The EFF is not a breeding ground for position mongers who, even when there is overwhelming clarity on the leadership question, raise money to campaign that they should be elected at all costs.”
Malema was also quick to allay reports that the EFF might face an implosion, as happened with the Congress of the People.
“The EFF will never be weakened by internal leadership squabbles because an absolute majority of the leading core and all members of the EFF appreciate that our struggle is not a struggle for self-enrichment and personal glory.”
He said: “We have (given an) assurance to (families of) workers who were murdered in Marikana that we will never allow the EFF to disintegrate, and will hold this movement together until victory.”
Meanwhile, reports suggest that some members want Floyd Shivambu as EFF deputy president and others want MP Khanyisile Litchfield-Tshabalala.
But she was expected to decline her nomination, apparently because she didn’t want to get involved in a leadership tussle with Shivambu.
- Sunday Independent