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Breaking through or bouncing back? Malema confronts SA's political glass ceiling
Julius Malema has been many things to many people: rabble-rouser, radical, populist, showman, even a self-styled demi-god.
And he has made no secret of his ambitions. Julius Malema wants to be the country's number one.
"When you run, you always want to be number one or you want to be number two," he said at an event recently. "You can't be number three."
When his party, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), contested its first national election in 2014, just a year after its launch, the party did well, securing 6.35% of the vote, making it the country's third-largest party. Five years later, it increased its share to 10.8%.
If Malema's comments are anything to go by, the EFF is looking to improve in the 2024 elections.
In a country with a shrinking economy, but growing unemployment, this should have been an easy thing for the firebrand politician and his party to achieve.
But if the EFF is watching recent opinion polls, which are snapshots in time, it appears the party has a lot of work to do if it is going to win over voters. The Ipsos poll released at the end of April indicated the EFF would get 11.5% of the vote, which is a nominal increase from 2019.
The Social Research Daily Tracking poll, over the period of 15 April to 15 May, painted an even grimmer picture for the party, showing support falling to about 7%.
The various polls show the EFF is tracking behind Jacob Zuma's newly formed Umkhonto weSizwe Party, which could mean Malema might have to scramble just to keep the EFF's third place, never mind getting first or second place.
Malema, perhaps aware that his style of politics doesn't always sit well with the country's conservative electorate, seems to have toned things down over this election campaign compared to when he ended his address at the party's 10th anniversary celebrations by singing "Kill the Boer".
In this week's Friday Briefing, we ask whether Malema's EFF has reached its glass ceiling.
News24's political reporter Siyamtanda Capa writes about the party's changed tactics to try woo younger voters.
We also have a submission from Nelson Mandela University's Ongama Mtimka, who examines the party's behavioural change and whether we can expect the EFF to move away from its radical politics.
Finally, the University of Johannesburg's Mcebisi Ndletyana reflects on why the party doesn't seem to be growing, even though it seems to get the numbers at its rallies.
Hope you enjoy the insights into the country's third-largest party, as you decide who to vote for.
Next week, Friday Briefing will examine the ANC's election campaign as election day gets ever nearer.
Best,
Vanessa Banton
Opinions editor.
Malema's EFF: Rallying for change or celebrity politics?
In an effort to get young voters into the voting booth, the EFF has employed new campaign tactics. Siyamtanda Capa examines whether it will be enough to win voters over as the EFF fights to improve its support
From fury to focus: Is the EFF evolving?
The EFF is hoping to double its numbers this election and has even toned down some of its strategies. Ongama Mtimka analyses if the party is moving away from its radical roots.
Populism, which drives the EFF, is a double-edged sword, writes Mcebisi Ndletyana. It makes the EFF attractive to a particular constituency while repelling others, he argues
