DA’s Cilliers Brink explains why the EFF is not an option

Democratic Alliance (DA) politician Cilliers Brink has delivered a pointed assessment of South Africa’s political landscape, describing the African National Congress (ANC) as a weak political force that can be influenced and pushed in a particular direction.

Brink’s remarks also highlight the DA’s reservations about the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), arguing that the party cannot be easily persuaded to abandon or compromise its ideological convictions.

“The ANC is weak, and the ANC can be pushed. The EFF is therefore not an option because you can’t push it around and change it from its ideological belief,” Brink said.

His comments offer an insight into the DA’s political thinking regarding negotiations, cooperation and the challenges of working with parties whose political philosophies differ considerably.

Brink’s assessment suggests that the ANC’s perceived political vulnerability creates room for other political formations to influence its decisions during negotiations. However, he believes the same approach would not work with the EFF because of its firm ideological position.

The distinction is particularly significant in South Africa’s increasingly competitive political environment, where no single party can afford to ignore the importance of political partnerships and negotiations.

The ANC, which governed South Africa with an outright parliamentary majority for three decades, lost that majority in the 2024 national and provincial elections. The development fundamentally changed the country’s political landscape and forced the governing party to pursue cooperation with other political formations.

The DA subsequently became a major partner in the Government of National Unity (GNU), alongside several other political parties.

However, cooperation between political organisations has not eliminated their ideological differences, particularly on economic policy, governance, land reform and the role of the state.

Brink’s remarks also reflect the broader difficulties associated with coalition politics, where political parties must balance their principles with the practical demands of governing.

For the DA, the ability to negotiate compromises without surrendering its fundamental political positions remains an important consideration.

His comments are likely to reignite discussions about the relationship between the ANC, DA and EFF, particularly as political parties continue positioning themselves ahead of future electoral contests.

Ultimately, Brink’s argument raises a fundamental question about political cooperation in South Africa: should parties prioritise ideological compatibility or their ability to influence one another when negotiating political arrangements.

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