Malema’s Political Gambit: No-Confidence Threat Sends Shockwaves Through ANC and GNU

EFF leader Julius Malema isn’t just rattling sabres he’s drawing battle lines. In a fiery warning to the ANC, Malema said his party would back a DA-led motion of no confidence against President Cyril Ramaphosa. If it comes to that, the outcome could be history-making and deeply unsettling for the ruling party.

In his trademark blunt style, Julius Malema didn’t mince words this week: if the ANC keeps ignoring the Economic Freedom Fighters, it may end up handing the presidency to John Steenhuisen, the leader of the Democratic Alliance and current Minister of Agriculture.

“I want to warn you,” Malema told journalists and MPs, “this country will have a white president. Steenhuisen will be president if the ANC is behaving the way it is doing.”

The warning wasn’t just theatre, it was strategic pressure. Malema made it clear that the EFF would vote with the DA to oust Ramaphosa. But when it came to electing a new president, his party would abstain, leaving the ANC vulnerable to parliamentary arithmetic that could swing the country’s top office in a dramatically different direction.

A Veiled Deal or a Bold Threat?

Despite the aggressive tone, Malema also signaled a subtle openness to negotiation. His remarks seemed less about a genuine alliance with the DA and more about cornering the ANC into reconsidering its decision to exclude the EFF from the Government of National Unity (GNU).

“We are not working with the DA,” Malema clarified, “but the motion of no confidence will come, and we will vote with them.”

Analysts believe this is classic Malema: high-stakes brinkmanship designed to extract concessions or reframe the power dynamic in a divided Parliament. Exclusion from the GNU appears to have reawakened Malema’s appetite for political revenge.

MK’s Wild Card Silence

While the EFF makes noise, Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party has remained strategically silent. This silence has only intensified speculation.

Professor Dirk Kotzé, a political analyst, says MK might surprise observers by voting in Ramaphosa’s favour, not out of loyalty, but to position itself as a kingmaker in future GNU negotiations. “They might even demand leniency or backroom deals regarding Zuma’s legal troubles,” he added.

However, abstention also remains a possibility. MK has grievances with both the ANC and the DA and may choose to stay above the fray, keeping their hands clean while securing leverage.

GNU Allies and the Real Math

Despite the noise, the actual possibility of removing Ramaphosa via no-confidence remains slim. The ANC still commands enough support from smaller parties like Al Jama-ah, the Patriotic Alliance, and the Pan Africanist Congress to tip the vote.

Yet Malema’s rhetoric carries weight. He claimed the ANC’s political decline began in 2016, when it ignored the EFF’s warnings and lost key metros.

“Even when they were humbled by voters, they stayed arrogant,” Malema said. “When they vote with us, they win. When they don’t, they lose. It’s going to happen again.”

What Happens If Ramaphosa Falls?

The possibility of John Steenhuisen becoming the first white president since 1994 has sent a chill through parts of the ANC and its traditional support base. While some dismiss it as unlikely, others fear the symbolism and political consequences, of such an outcome.

But Kotzé downplays the chances of the motion even materialising. “The DA would be in a worse situation if Ramaphosa is removed,” he argued. “They don’t have a viable alternative and are likely using this as leverage to push their GNU demands.”

In essence, the threat may not be about removing Ramaphosa, but reminding him who holds the balance of power.

The Bigger Picture: Revenge, Realignment, or Reset?

This unfolding saga isn’t just about a no-confidence vote. It’s about shifting alliances, post-election bitterness, and a political chessboard where even threats can reshape negotiations.

Malema may not want Steenhuisen as president. What he wants is leverage. Recognition. A seat at the table. And he’s betting that the ANC can’t afford to call his bluff.

With the MK party in play, the DA posturing, and smaller parties weighing their loyalties, South Africa’s 7th Parliament may soon face its first real test, not just of numbers, but of maturity and vision.

Will this be a moment of collapse or compromise? One thing’s for sure: Julius Malema is holding more than a red beret, he’s holding the match to a political powder keg.

{Source: The Citizen}

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