“It Was The Wrong Decision To remove Julius Malema From The ANC” ANC Veteran, Mathews Phosa Says

African National Congress (ANC) veteran Mathews Phosa has reopened one of the most consequential debates in modern South African politics after suggesting that the party made a mistake when it expelled Julius Malema over a decade ago. Phosa’s statement, declaring that it was the wrong decision to remove Malema from the governing party, carries significant weight due to his own long history as a senior ANC leader and former treasurer-general who witnessed the internal disciplinary proceedings firsthand.

Julius Malema was formally expelled from the ANC in 2012 following a series of high-profile disciplinary hearings. At the time, the party cited breach of discipline and public criticism of top leadership under former President Jacob Zuma. Rather than fading from the political stage, Malema used his departure as a launching pad to found the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in 2013. Over the past decade, the EFF has grown into South Africa’s third-largest political party, building a strong base among younger voters through its focus on land reform, nationalization, and economic inequality.

Phosa’s reflection highlights the long-term strategic consequences of that disciplinary decision. By casting out Malema, the ANC lost a dynamic and influential youth leader who subsequently transformed into one of its most formidable parliamentary opponents. Malema’s rise has consistently drained electoral support from the ruling party, creating an opposition movement that relentlessly challenges the ANC on key policy matters and governance issues.

The timing of Phosa’s remark comes as South Africa’s political landscape undergoes further shifts, marked by declining margins of support for the ANC and the rise of competitive opposition forces like the EFF and the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party. While Phosa’s comment does not imply endorsement of the EFF’s current agenda, it underscores how internal party discipline can yield unintended national consequences. More than twelve years after his exit, the debate over Malema’s expulsion remains a powerful reminder of how a single political decision reshaped South African democracy.

https://x.com/ThisIsColbert/status/2119449540252020854?a=9t3dXCSXh8N24W0y7JA&s=19

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