Elections 2014: Economic Freedom Fighters

Probably the party that will bring the most interesting surprises to the election is the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), led by the controversial expelled ANC Youth Leader Julius Malema.

Initially portrayed as a cartoonish buffoon by the media and his critics, Malema and the party have risen to the occasion and have gained great support especially from the poorest of the poor and the youth.

EFF rallies are marked by Malema’s populist left-wing rhetoric, which is a brew of Marxism, Leninism, anti-capitalism, anti-imperialism and Pan-Africanism. The party’s members are recognised by their red berets.

The party’s manifesto emphasises change in the country through radical economic reforms. It states that “it is our firm belief and conviction that economic freedom will be attained through implementation of seven cardinal pillars”, which are:

• Expropriation of South Africa’s land without compensation for equal redistribution in use

• Nationalisation of mines, banks and other strategic sectors of the economy, without compensation

• Building state and government capacity, which will lead to the abolition of tenders

• Free quality education, healthcare, houses and sanitation

• Massive protected industrial development to create millions of sustainable jobs, including the introduction of minimum wages in order to close the wage gap between the rich and the poor, close the apartheid wage gap and promote rapid career paths for all people in the workplace

• Massive development of the African economy and advocating for a move from reconciliation to justice on the entire continent

• Open, accountable, corrupt-free government and society without fear of victimisation by state agencies

For the full article, read next week’s edition of the Record.