Is Malema Repeating Zuma’s Leadership Mistakes?

Dictatorship or Democracy? Malema’s Path Mirrors Zuma’s

Has Julius Malema, President of the Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF), been poisoned by the same dictatorship he once fought so hard against when he was in the ANC? Media continues to report about the growing discontentment with Malema’s leadership within the ANC, especially felt by Floyd Shivambu, former EFF Deputy President and co-founder. It appears history is repeating itself with different details.

A report came out on the 18th of August expressing the distrust that began to fester between Shivambu and Malema over the negotiations of the Government of National Unity (GNU). Shivambu was keen to join the GNU and take the post of Deputy Finance Minister; however, Malema refused to engage in negotiation with the ANC if he did not hold the Deputy President position. Malema unilaterally undermined the organization's wishes and opted not to engage in the GNU after he had been denied.

Furthermore, sources close to the EFF stated there had been plans to unseat Floyd Shivambu as Deputy President of the party in the election this upcoming December. It seems Malema had begun pushing his own agenda and potentially trying to cut down Shivambu to size. This resulted in the resignation of Floyd Shivambu and the departure of members of the party who had been loyal to him.

What appears to be more apparent is that Julius Malema is unwilling to share the power mantle with anyone within the party and has decided to make unilateral decisions on behalf of the party. The appointment of Busisiwe Mkhwebane as a Member of Parliament led to controversy within the party. She had been a member of the EFF for less than a year; many felt there were more deserving party members, which encompassed those who had given their time and service to the party. It seems that Malema has begun losing the grip on many who had historically respected him as the charismatic leader and “Chief in Charge” of the EFF, which is no different to the same dictatorial rule the former President Jacob Zuma once held over the African National Congress (ANC) throughout his two terms as president.

In 2012, when Julius Malema was suspended and then later expelled, he expressed his great dislike for Zuma’s leadership: "It is under President Zuma that we have seen the youth of the ANC being traumatized, being expelled from their own home. It is under President Zuma we have seen a critical voice being suppressed. We have seen under President Zuma democracy being replaced with dictatorship.” The same unruly and undemocratic leadership existed, where challenge and critique of the president led to significant consequences for those who expressed themselves openly and freely. It appears to be the same history repeating itself simply with different details.

Now, 12 years later, Julius Malema speaks of the party outliving him and being a political party and not just a party built and supported by his personality. He continues to make a commitment to the party even after all the turmoil that has existed between the two of them. In his speech given after Shivambu's announcement to resign, he assured people this will not be the end of the party. He made a commitment that “Tomorrow, the doors of this building will still be open. We are not closing this building today, and we are not closing this building tomorrow.” He showed a willingness to overcome this difficult political time.

However, as more unfolds and the media continues to share stories and insider information about the apparent split, it would be assumed that many loyal to the EFF and those loyal to Shivambu will begin to ask themselves about the party and the integrity of their leader.

After not reaching expectations within the election, a stance on open borders, VBS Mutual Bank allegations, and now it seems the Malema who was once the hero of the people is beginning to become his own enemy. It is unclear whether or not cooperation within the GNU would’ve led to a positive response. It has left the EFF out of government once again. Smaller parties who opted to work with the ANC, which had been known for corruption and mismanagement, have taken this as an opportunity to show their governing capacity. You have to ask: will the EFF and Malema be able to withstand the negative media?

Malema gears up to run for president of the party without a clear competitor; it is likely he will be given the presidency once again. But what this means for the EFF and supporters will have to see as we get closer to the elections in December and 2026.