EFF Candidate Breaks Silence After Poor Election Results

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) say they are happy with their results so far in the local government elections, according to Omphile, the party’s treasurer and its candidate for mayor of Tshwane. She said the numbers are better than what the party achieved in the previous local government elections.

Her upbeat message stands in contrast to a video in which party secretary-general Marshall Dlamini expressed disappointment earlier in the count. The two reactions differ sharply, and it is not yet clear why. It may be that they speak from different roles or different parts of the country. It is also possible the party is trying to present a positive picture while counting is still under way. If the EFF is gaining in some wards and losing in others, both statements could be true at the same time. Clearer answers should come once the final numbers are out.

It is also important to remember that these are early figures. Official results will only be confirmed after the verification and declaration processes are finished, so everything seen so far should be treated as provisional.

Tshwane is one of the most politically charged metros in the country. Its council has been shaped by shifting coalitions for years, and the EFF has used its influence there to push its economic agenda. Whoever takes charge of the city inherits a long list of problems, including a steady supply of water and electricity, roads in good repair, and a municipality that has struggled to collect revenue and pay its bills.

Omphile’s message suggests the party is measuring success against its own past performance and not against its rivals. Smaller and growing parties often do this, especially when the headline result does not bring a clear breakthrough. A modest gain may not be enough to change who runs the metro, so voters may want to look at how each party’s result compares with those of the others.

The EFF’s showing will also matter in coalition talks, which will decide the next administration in Tshwane. A party that can credibly claim growth is in a stronger position to ask for a place on the mayoral ticket or a senior committee role. It also has to show that its gains are not a one-time protest vote that will fade by the next election. Residents have grown used to coalition governments that struggle to deliver, so any party asking for their support will need to show it can improve daily life.

For now, the EFF’s message in Tshwane sounds quite different from the earlier reaction within the party. Whether the optimism is justified will become clear once the IEC verifies the full count and the party’s claim of progress is compared with the official figures.

https://x.com/TimesLIVE/status/2118385738266059037

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