JOHANNESBURG, JUL 27: Analysts said the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) must think about how it plans to fend off the threat posed by the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party as it celebrates its birthday this weekend.
Analyst Lukhona Mnguni said this might include considering offering the electorate a new proposition or joining hands with former president Jacob Zuma’s political party.
The red berets are marking their 11th anniversary by holding a rally at the AR Abbas Sports Ground in Kimberley on Saturday.
This comes as it licks its wounds following a poor showing at the general elections in May.
It is now no longer the country’s third largest party but has fallen to fourth place.
This is how Malema said his party relates to the political newcomer.
“MK Party and ourselves, we are together. We shall be the official opposition together. We will help each other in that role, together.”
And while talk in the lead-up to the launch of the MK Party suggesting Malema would bring his faithful to Zuma was dismissed, it seems that conversation might need to be revisited.
Mnguni said the EFF and the MK Party are playing in the same space, which might result in an even closer working relationship.
“By considering a merger with the MK Party between now and 2029 and maybe they stand on a singular platform.”
Meanwhile, another independent analyst, Dr Ralph Mathekga, said the EFF has to focus more attention on how it deals with the issue of succession.
“If you have a clear leadership process, a clear pipeline of leadership, you are not relying on a single person to survive.”
The question that always linger is how will the EFF survive without the founding Malema.
“You might find that Malema himself might want to give others the opportunity but is concerned about what would be the impact of that on the party, so a clear line of succession is very important to ensure institutions are stronger than individuals.”
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