There isn’t a political party on the scene which reflects my personal political views. I think that’s true for many South Africans. Voting is a strategic decision which does not necessarily reflect your political views. It is just one part of political activism which should not end at the voting booth. I don’t support all the EFF’s policies: I support a worker’s democracy, which is not something the EFF talk about much.
The ANC have shown themselves to not be a revolutionary party. They follow the US-promoted neoliberal austerity measures, are unwilling to stand up to big business, which dominates our society, and do not offer any alternative to capitalism. The results are evident – economic stagnation and decline, crumbling infrastructure, further enrichment of the ultra-rich, increased poverty, crime and social unrest. The ANC also display a distinct lack of courage in the international and local scene to do things like kick out the Israeli ambassador in the face of a genocidal assault on Gaza, or end the extremely harmful war on drugs. No wonder they have lost popularity lately.
What about the DA? Well they have become a right-wing, white based party which promotes western-oriented capitalist policy similar to the ANC or even worse. They want even more austerity capitalism, even less investment in basic infrastructure and industry, policies which are highly regressive and will accelerate the downward path which South Africa has been on and will incite further racial animus.
Then there are a number of smaller parties which have entered the scene. Sadly I don’t really see many parties talking about the economy in a way which inspires me. In South Africa, the capitalist dogma is so firmly entrenched that almost nobody dares challenge it.
Any party I vote for has to promote a socialist alternative. However that reduces the list down to the EFF and a some smaller parties. I do believe small parties deserve our support, I belong to a small socialist party, but there’s no way they can attain success on an electoral basis.
The EFF has been growing impressively as of late. It wouldn’t surprise me if they do much better this election than ever before. Their results in the municipal election of 2021 allowed them to make a coalition government in Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni. Throughout the country they have swept SRC elections in Universities and Colleges, showing their popularity among the youth. This time they will probably make an even bigger challenge to power in this country. As Malema said in his recent address in Mpumalanga, it’s thanks to the EFF that the youth care about politics again. Before they were apathetic and uninterested.
Again, I don’t support all the policies of the EFF, but they do at least put pressure on the government to make the sort of changes which South Africa desperately needs. They are the only party which challenges the status quo and identifies the most salient issues facing South Africa. Having a stronger state to stand up to the capitalist overlords which run South Africa, having state-led investment and job creation, and of course distributing land to ordinary South Africans. It is the EFF which is the biggest driver to redistribute land and end the legacy of Apartheid which never left our country.
Simply advocating for the dignity of ordinary South Africans, like having flushing toilets in schools is something which has impressed me about the EFF. They have also pledged to legalise cannabis, and evict the Israeli ambassador, which shows they have the courage to oppose the US, which drives the global drug war and the wars around the world. The EFF encourages members to study and celebrates education, Malema is enrolled in a masters degree.
If you are concerned about farm murders, you should support the EFF. It’s only by redistributing land, and creating a basis of prosperity for those hopeless, desperate individuals which are so numerous in this country, that we can have security. Their policies will bring down crime, bring down farm murders, which have their basis in economic reasons.
I must emphasise that political activism should not stop at voting. We cannot rely on political saviours to do our work for us. It is only with a mass movement that real changes can be made in the political arena. A revolutionary party will be up against the entrenched system, but with a mass movement behind them they can have enough clout to make real changes. A mass democratic movement will keep politicians accountable and keep up the pressure to do the right things. We all know that power corrupts. The people know what their interests are.
Brilliant analysis Paul, i think by far EFF stand out to be the party amongst few that is decisive and able to address capital head on, South Africa is full of potential and that potential can fully be realised through social equality. Fully support your statement that the job doesnt end with political parties and to find a party that ticks all the boxes is a wishful thinking. We can deal with a party that put interest of majority at bay and thus far EFF is standing out
I was watching the debate on the Israel embassy today and I can say is voting for smaller parties is a waste of your vote. They stand for nothing. They’re merely there to vote, they do not participate in smaller matters that affect SAns, they’re just waiting for grandstanding opportunities
Workers democracy, I think the EFF speaks less about such issues as it focuses more on the unemployed. Discussing such policies would not appeal to the 60% of unemployed youth. If you’d look at the work done by the Labour desk you’d realise how they’re for a working class
Here’s my thing, ANC and DA who are in power one way or another always find themselves in sticky situations but it’s the EFF who’ll get the stick on suspicion than they’ll be the same as ANC even though they have proven to be corrupt free for the past 10years. It was Mashaba who said EFF never asked him for a tender. They’re currently running a clean government where they hold MMC positions.
I think a workers democracy is an ultimate goal to work towards, and can only be realised by a mass movement, we are not quite there yet. But the important thing is the EFF are pushing people into the direction of being politically active, for South Africans to wake up and start acting.
Beautiful piece, also, the EFF wants to decentralise the economy, this is to give equal job opportunities to people so not everyone can clump up Johannesburg. The EFF also plans to open up borders to the rest of Africa and not only SADC for free trade because SA may have a huge market, imagine being able to sell goods to Sudan, Ghana, Cameroon without any tax tariffs, that would be good business for South Africans. EFF plans to reduce benefits of public representatives, EFF plans to force Public Reps to use public services, EFF plans to do-away with tenders because they perpetuate corruption and murders. I believe there is no economy to build without a redress first, restarting the economy on level grounds will be a great step towards the correct direction.
A vote for the EFF definitely not be a waste. I like their stance on building state capacity to have state business done by the state which will create more jobs and do away with tenders which gives birth to corruption and killing of people. I will definitely be voting EFF
As much as I agree with some sentiment, There is way too much supposition … assumption is the mother of all… Unverified data abounds as well.
A few questions:
You claim the DA will invest even less thst the ANC into basic infrastructure. I find that hard to believe. Can you back that up?
Land redistribution is a very bad thing for SA. As it is, our lovely government has brought us to our knees with their investment ideas. Theyve bought farms and destroyed them. Theyve bought factories and desatroyed them. Theyve destroyed SAA, Eskom and a host of other SEOs which no longer exist, but thrived pre 94.
In my honest opinion, The EFF is going to do to SA EXACTLY what Mugabe did to Zim. Theyre WAAAY too far left for my vote.
Dont get me wrong: Im poor. I dont own land or a vehicle. As much as land expropriation without compensation will benefit me, I know its wrong. People work hard for what they have… As do I.
I firmly believe that, to bring this country right, we need a good leader who is going to start at the top and put the right people in the right positions. Cele cant find his hand. Cyril cant find his way to a bank.
To this end, Ive been following Gayton. This guy! From a life of crime (Which politiocian HASNT committed a crime nowadays?) to becoming a Motivational Speaker, a businessman, politician. This guy gives up his salary every month to help the people under him. He walks the streets to find out whats really going on. Between him and Chris Pappas, Im truly impressed.
If you look at the DA’s criticisms of the ANC they are generally that they “spend too much”, and that they disagree with BEE. The DA policies do not contain a plan to invest into infrastructure, education and public works on a large scale. They generally want austerity.
Yes what happened in Zimbabwe was a disaster. But many countries had great success after redistributing land. Like Singapore, South Korea and China.
We need to undo the effects of land theft during apartheid and colonial times which were never undone.