No alliance between EFF and MK Party, says Malema
Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema has dismissed suggestions of working together with MK Party.
Image: Itumeleng English
Julius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), has denied any possibility of his party forming an alliance with the Umkhonto Wesizwe Party (UWP) in the lead-up to the impending local government elections.
This announcement follows a recent high-profile visit by former President Jacob Zuma, which ignited speculation and curiosity among political observers and party supporters alike.
Zuma travelled to Limpopo to offer condolences to Malema following the death of his aunt, Martha Malema, a gesture that quickly fuelled speculation about a possible political rapprochement between the two parties.
But Malema moved swiftly to shut down the narrative.
“We want to thank President Zuma and the MK Party for coming to our home and sending condolences. It is only African to do so. It has nothing to do with political agreements. We belong to different political parties. We will never come together,” he said.
The latest episode adds another layer to a complex and often ambiguous relationship between Malema and Zuma, one shaped by shared political history, ideological overlap and periodic public tension.
Analysts say the symbolism of Zuma’s visit cannot be ignored, even if both leaders publicly downplay its significance.
Professor Ntwanano Mathebula, a political analyst from the University of Johannesburg, said the interaction reflects a deeper dynamic that is not always visible in public statements.
“The issue of the MK Party and the EFF is not so easy to understand. And the visit by MK Party leader, former President Jacob Zuma, has been described by Julius himself as a visit based on African values. You never know, but we understand he visited the family to pay respects for Juliu’s aunt. But of course, the history between the two individuals and political parties is something that can be confusing at times,” he said.
He pointed to previous moments, including the EFF’s visit to Nkandla, which similarly sparked speculation about behind-the-scenes engagement.
“You will remember the tea at Nkandla, which left all of us speculating what the visit could have been about,” he said.
The speculation comes against the backdrop of shifting political loyalties, particularly the movement of high-profile figures between parties.
The formation of the MK Party ahead of the 2024 general elections significantly reshaped the political landscape, drawing support from segments of the electorate that overlap with the EFF’s base, especially in KwaZulu-Natal and parts of Limpopo.
Mathebula noted that while Malema has ruled out any immediate alliance, political strategy often evolves.
He added that cooperation between the parties after the elections remains a realistic possibility, particularly in hung municipalities where coalition politics becomes unavoidable.
“This is not something they would want to put out in public, so as not to scare voters of the EFF who might not like the MK Party. The relationship goes beyond the African values they claim. It will become clearer as the parties unveil their manifestos,” he said.
Analysts also point to ideological alignment as a potential basis for future cooperation. Both parties position themselves as radical alternatives to the political mainstream, advocating for economic transformation and state intervention.
At the same time, critics have highlighted similarities in internal party dynamics.
Mathebula described both organisations as highly centralised, with decision-making often concentrated around dominant leaders.
Another political analyst, Professor Ricky Munyaradzi Mukonza, said the MK Party may view the EFF as its closest ideological partner, even if that is not publicly acknowledged.
“The MK Party’s strategic thinking could well identify the EFF as a natural ally,” Mukonza said.
He added that Zuma’s decision to travel from KwaZulu-Natal to Limpopo should not be dismissed as purely ceremonial.