Julius Malema says the EFF cannot be in the government with white murderers like Helen Zille and Pieter Groenewald

EFF leader Julius Malema said that they cannot join the government of national unity (GNU) as long as white parties like the DA and Freedom Front Plus are represented.

Malema shared this information in response to a question in an SABC interview about their potential participation in the government of national unity.

“We are not opposed to participating in the government of national unity. However, Helen Zille and Pieter Groenewald would have to go first,” he said.

“If they walk, we can go inside the government of national unity. After we go inside, things will start happening.”

“We don’t play with power. When we get it, we use it to benefit the black masses of our people, and that’s what we are going to do.”

Expanding on why the EFF would first like the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Freedom Front Plus to leave, he said they are white people who were responsible for apartheid.

“We don’t want to be part of a government of national unity with murderers in it. We cannot sit in a cabinet with the Freedom Front and DA,” he said.

“We cannot go to Chris Hani’s grave and celebrate him while sitting with people who killed him in the same cabinet.”

“We cannot allow that. How would we explain that to Solomon Mahlangu, who was hanged, while the international community was saying not to hang children?”

“You are asking us to serve in the government of national unity’s cabinet with people who have killed children who did nothing but ask to be free.”

“They did not ask for the freedom to vote. All they were asking was to be free to be children, and they killed them. You are now asking us to sit with them.”

These comments align with what Malema said in 2024, during the negotiations that led to the formation of the government of national unity.

At the time, he said that the Democratic Alliance and Freedom Front Plus were right-wing formations.

Their policies, such as opposition to land expropriation without compensation and state ownership, conflict with the EFF’s founding principles.

After the GNU was established between the ANC, DA, IFP, FF Plus, and smaller parties, Malema said the EFF would assume the role of a parliamentary opposition.

He noted that the EFF would focus on seats it holds and key policy battles rather than on coalition horse-trading with right-leaning parties.