MPUMALANGA — Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) President Julius Malema addressed a large crowd at the KaMaqhekeza Stadium in Mpumalanga, outlining the party’s aggressive campaign strategy ahead of the local government elections. During the rally, Malema focused heavily on socioeconomic reforms, promising to increase SASSA grants, provide free basic services for the elderly, and drastically reduce municipal outsourcing.
Speaking to supporters, Malema criticized the current ANC government and local municipalities for their reliance on “sophisticated” outsourcing, particularly regarding infrastructure development. Highlighting Ward 11, he noted that while roads are currently being advertised to external contractors, an EFF-led municipality would utilize its internal capacity to build roads directly. He argued that municipalities should not outsource their core mandate, emphasizing that their primary job is direct service delivery.
A major focal point of Malema’s address was the elimination of municipal security tenders. He cited a previous initiative in Gauteng, specifically Johannesburg, where the EFF bypassed private security companies to pay guards directly. By cutting out the middleman, the party ensured better wages and ended the exploitation of workers. Malema promised to implement this exact model in Nkomi, committing to hiring qualified security personnel directly rather than using external agencies. He also assured municipal workers that their benefits would be protected, guaranteeing that permanent employees would not lose their jobs when returning from sick leave.
Malema fiercely defended the financial independence of the elderly, declaring a fight against forcing grandmothers to pay for basic utilities. He argued that SASSA grants are strictly meant for food and survival, and it is unjust for poor citizens to use this money to pay for water and electricity. To resolve this, he proposed providing free water to the elderly. He suggested that the funding for this initiative would come from recovering unpaid debts and taking legal action against corporate entities and municipal service providers who have long avoided paying their dues.
Addressing the national budget and social grants, Malema dismissed the ANC’s claims of having no money, asserting that social grants are not ANC charity but taxpayer funds. He promised that the EFF would increase the older persons grant to R4,500 and upwards. To fund this increase, he proposed a drastic reduction in the government wage bill by abolishing the positions of Deputy Ministers and Deputy Directors. He labeled these political roles a waste of public money, arguing that the funds saved from cutting these positions should be redirected to support the elderly and children.
Through these proposals, Malema positioned the EFF as a party of direct action and economic redistribution, contrasting their grassroots approach with what he described as the ANC’s political excesses and failure to deliver basic services.
