WATCH: Malema arrives at packed FNB Stadium for EFF celebrations

EFF leader Julius Malema was welcomed with loud cheers as he arrived at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg for the party’s 10th anniversary celebrations on Saturday.

Stadium packed for EFF birthday celebrations

The stadium was fully packed – with the leadership of the EFF forced to allow some of those who did not have seats to be seated pitch side.

The party’s secretary-general Marshall Dlamini had to call on other party members who were on their way to the stadium to “stay at home because the stadium is overfull”.

Placard branded with ‘Malema For President’ were visible from those who were sitting on the stage.

Another placard read: ‘the ANC is dead’.

ALSO READ: ‘Egg on your face’: Malema’s R1.2-million gala dinner table ‘sold for 3 times more’

The party’s chairperson Veronica Mente said no one believed the EFF would grow this much when the party was launched in 2013.

EFF Gauteng chair slams ANC and DA

EFF Gauteng chair Nkululeko Dunga used the birthday celebration to take aim at other parties.

He first took a jab at Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, saying “down with Panyanza”.

“We have a government that is obsessed with itself, where the premier is busy parading the poverty in stadiums just to hand over appointment letters to EPWP that he struggles to pay,” he said.

ALSO READ: These are the EFF leaders ‘banned’ from anniversary rally after transport flop

Dunga also criticised the Democratic Alliance (DA), claiming the party and its coalition partners were killing people in Hammanskraal.

Watch: EFF president Julius Malema arrives at FNB Stadium

#EFF President #JuliusMalema has arrived at the FNB stadium to celebrate the party's #EFF10thAnniversary pic.twitter.com/HsgKEAZq82

— Lunga_mzangwe (@lunga_mzangwe) July 29, 2023

Some EFF members said the packed stadium was a sign that the party is set for a strong showing at next year’s elections.

“This shows that the party is growing and we have a good chance to remove the ANC next year,” one said.

ATM’s Zungula celebrates with EFF

ATM president Vuyo Zungula was among those from other political parties who were invited to the EFF’s celebration.

Zungula said opposition parties had to unite if they wanted to remove the ANC from power.

“We have a problem in this country called the president. He has influenced parliament not to hold him accountable, he had influenced the NPA not to act against him and he is definitely influencing the electoral processes for next year. If we do not unite as opposition parties next year, we are going to lose.”

Malema is expected to make closing remarks at the celebration.

ALSO READ: ‘It’s cold outside ANC’: Why some parties struggle while EFF flourishes