Julius Malema calls on voters to remove ANC from power
· The South African
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has called on South Africans to turn out in large numbers and vote the African National Congress (ANC) out of power in the upcoming local government elections.
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Malema was speaking at the EFF’s manifesto launch in North West on Saturday ahead of the 4 November elections.
JULIUS MALEMA URGES VOTERS TO REMOVE ANC FROM POWER
The ANC has faced declining electoral support in recent local and national elections, polling below 50% in the 2016 and 2021 local government elections. The party has also lost its outright majority nationally, securing less than 50% of the vote in the 2024 general elections. Despite this, some municipalities including metropolitans are governed through ANC-led coalitions.
Calling on supporters to vote, Julius Malema likened their identity documents to weapons that could be used to bring about political change.
“On 4 November, whether it’s hot, cold, whether it’s raining, we are going to wake up, take our IDs the same way [King] Shaka took the spear and use our IDs as a spear to fight the enemy,” he said.
“On 4 November, we are removing the ANC from power,” he added.
Malema told supporters that those who were previously unsure about whether to vote now had a reason to do so.
He criticised the government over corruption and questioned why South Africans continue to struggle financially while allegations of corruption involving political leaders remain unresolved.
“How come I’m so poor and I’m struggling but a President takes money and puts it under a mattress. If you didn’t know what corruption is just look at the Phala Phala matter,” he said.
LGE 2026 | EFF leader Julius Malema is calling on South Africans to use their votes to remove the ANC from power, accusing the governing party of failing to address poverty and corruption. pic.twitter.com/cIKCXIFVw9
— SABC News (@SABCNews) September 5, 2026
WHAT IS THE PHALA PHALA SCANDAL?
The comments come as President Cyril Ramaphosa faces an ongoing parliamentary impeachment process linked to the Phala Phala farm scandal.
The Phala Phala controversy relates to a 2020 robbery at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s private farm in Limpopo, where a large amount of foreign currency was stolen. The matter prompted questions about the source of the money, whether it was properly declared and how the incident was handled.
Ramaphosa has denied wrongdoing and has maintained that the money was proceeds from the sale of game. The controversy has nevertheless remained a political issue for opposition parties, including the EFF.
Parliament’s Section 89 Impeachment Committee is investigating whether Ramaphosa’s conduct relating to the 2020 theft of foreign currency at his Phala Phala farm amounts to an impeachable offence. The committee has continued its work in 2026, despite legal challenges brought by the President.