Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema should not be worried by the good turnout during Monday’s protests because he is not in control and the state apparatus is on top of the situation, experts say. Other analysts say Malema has identified a void on the left that he wants to fill. But he will not succeed if he aligns himself with the insignificant leftists instead of making alliances with the same political formations and civil society. The EFF has only attracted the attention of political analyst Dirk Kotzé saying that it does not carry out regime change and make the country stop because it has…
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema should not be worried by the good turnout during Monday’s protests because he is not in control and the state apparatus is on top of the situation, experts say.
Other analysts say Malema has identified a void on the left that he wants to fill. But he will not succeed if he aligns himself with the insignificant leftists instead of making alliances with the same political formations and civil society.
The EFF is just attracting attention
Political analyst Dirk Kotzé says that instead of bringing about regime change and bringing the country to a standstill as planned, Malema has only succeeded in appealing to the EFF. The protests have prompted a massive response from countries that are reducing their influence.
Kotzé, from the University of SA’s politics department, said while it was not completely closed, there was less activity on the streets than usual.
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“This situation is not controlled by the EFF. More state institutions are under control and more organized than in the past. Also the security forces are not ready because the EFF gave early notice of the death,” he said.
The parties participating in the march were the Pan-Africanist Congress of Azania, expelled ANC member Carl Niehaus, the African Transformation Movement and the South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu).
Also read: National shutdown: Impact ‘not huge’
United Democratic Movement (UDM) Bantu Holomisa expressed solidarity with the closure of the EFF and organized its own event.
‘Don’t turn left’
Kotze rejects the notion that the EFF has taken a strategic initiative to become a leftist leader in SA.
“I don’t think there is a movement to the left. The small party that is there sees an opportunity to get airtime. They create an impression of unity, but I don’t see it,” he said.
Mashego said Saftu joined because its secretary general Zwelinzima Vavi believed it could exploit workers who were ideologically aligned with the EFF but did not see a home in other union structures.
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Regarding UDM’s participation, the analyst said that Holomisa saw himself in Malema.
“Both have friends in the ANC as they continue to rabble. The difference may be that Holomisa is a constitutionalist while Malema is an anarchist.
– ericn@citizen.co.za