South African President Cyril Ramaphosa outlined his new government’s direction during the parliamentary session following the electoral setback his party, the African National Congress (ANC), faced in May. This defeat forced Ramaphosa to form a broad coalition, including the main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance. This coalition has drawn sharp criticism from Julius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
Typically unflappable in the face of criticism, Ramaphosa uncharacteristically responded to personal attacks from Malema, who aims to position himself as the primary opposition force in Parliament against the national unity government. Malema derides the Democratic Alliance as a party for the white and the anti-poor, and he has accused Ramaphosa of being a sellout.
From his platform, Malema claimed that Ramaphosa, who has led South Africa since 2018, is a weakened figure following the ANC’s loss of its absolute majority in the general elections on May 29. Malema attempted to further undermine Ramaphosa by accusing him of collaborating with the apartheid regime. “We grew up hearing that some of you were collaborators. It’s now evident,” Malema alleged. “Despite the apartheid regime’s oppression of freedom fighters, you quietly attended university and secured jobs from the ambassadors of apartheid, capitalism, and colonialism.”
Malema also challenged Ramaphosa’s credentials as a former mining union leader, accusing him of never having worked underground.
Irritated by these accusations, Ramaphosa retorted, “Honorable Malema, it is important in our debates to focus on the ball, not the player. But you spend a lot of time focusing on the player, which is me.”
This confrontation underscores the stark divide between the national unity government members, who see themselves as builders, and the radical opposition, whom they label as disruptors.
The ongoing clash between Ramaphosa and Malema highlights the turbulent political landscape in South Africa, as the country grapples with internal party dynamics and broader socio-political challenges.