Inside Political Analyst Prince Mashele’s Brutal Future Prediction for Malema Party

Political analyst Prince Mashele’s previous prediction about the future of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has resurfaced following the party’s disappointing performance in South Africa’s 2026 Local Government Elections.

Mashele previously warned that the EFF could be approaching the beginning of its political decline, arguing that the departure of Floyd Shivambu had fundamentally weakened the party’s leadership structure.

His argument centred on the political relationship between Julius Malema and Shivambu, who were instrumental in establishing the EFF after their departure from the African National Congress during Jacob Zuma’s presidency.

According to Mashele, the two leaders brought different but complementary strengths to the organisation. While Malema possessed the ability to command attention through powerful speeches, confrontation and political mobilisation, Shivambu provided intellectual direction and strategic thinking.

Shivambu, who holds a master’s degree, was regarded as an important figure in developing the party’s ideological positions and political arguments. His contribution included the development of the EFF’s political programme, particularly its well-known Seven Cardinal Pillars.

Mashele argued that the combination of Malema’s communication abilities and Shivambu’s intellectual contribution created a formidable political partnership.

However, following Shivambu’s departure from the EFF in 2024, Mashele warned that the organisation could struggle to maintain its previous political influence.

He suggested that Malema had lost an important strategic partner and that the consequences could become increasingly visible during future elections.

The latest electoral developments have brought renewed attention to those warnings.

Provisional results from the 2026 Local Government Elections indicate that the EFF is receiving approximately 6% of the national vote, compared with the 10.5% it secured in the 2021 local elections. Although counting is ongoing, the figures point to a significant decline in support.

Mashele has also questioned Malema’s political approach, arguing that intimidating or alienating voters is unlikely to help a party secure democratic support.

In a constitutional democracy, voters have the freedom to choose political organisations that best represent their interests and expectations.

For the EFF, the challenge is now to understand why some voters appear to be withdrawing their support and whether the party can rebuild its electoral strength.

Mashele’s prediction that the EFF’s decline could become irreversible remains a political assessment rather than an established outcome. Nevertheless, the latest results have given his earlier warnings renewed relevance.

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