Why Julius Malema Is Facing Tough Questions After EFF’s Tshwane Defeat

Following the 2026 Local Government Elections, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) took a major electoral hit in the City of Tshwane, losing 10 council seats and without even managing to obtain a single ward.

Julius Malema’s party, which had 23 seats in the Tshwane council before the polls, will now have 13 delegates, which is a sad decrease.

Because of this result, people in one of the most significant metropolitan municipalities in Gauteng are talking about the party’s dwindling electoral power and whether or not its political message is still appealing to them.

Omphile Maotwe is one of those whose political standing has been called into question because of the party’s diminished presence as a consequence of the dismal results.

Several political persons and groups cited in debates regarding the Tshwane election result, such as Gubies 85, Ngaphesheya, El Shadai, and Mbungulu, have also been criticised for their performance by the EFF.

Because of the importance of council participation in deciding a party’s influence over municipal decisions, coalition talks, and government, the EFF’s loss of 10 seats is especially noteworthy.

Based on the most recent data, the Democratic Alliance secured 74 seats, followed by ActionSA with 48, and the African National Congress with 44, making it the biggest party in Tshwane.

With just thirteen MPs, the EFF has a much lower political profile and far less clout in discussions than it had in the last council.

All 107 wards in the municipality were lost by the party, therefore its new council members will be elected by proportional representation.

This new information makes one wonder how the EFF will be able to win back the hearts and minds of voters in time for the next election.

Political opponents have criticised Julius Malema for his public reaction to the election result. Many have wondered why, at his news conference, he focused so heavily on the ANC rather than delving more into the dismal performance of the EFF.

When parties suffer heavy election losses, the criticism reflects a larger discussion about who is responsible for running the show.

The EFF now has a greater problem than just describing what occurred in Tshwane. In addition, the party has to think about how it can regain voters’ trust and shore up its standing in city hall.

To prove it is still a powerful political force, the EFF will need to put in more effort now that the new council is likely to have a significant impact on Tshwane’s future.

The most pressing concern is whether Malema’s party can bounce back from this defeat in time for the next election.

https://x.com/Constitution_94/status/2119104938156363941?a=rxmPcH0TBjSxSU4_uwY&s=19

Growthlab feedback-opera-news-app@opera.com