The EFF will table a discussion on whether it will maintain its position of not participating in coalition agreements when the opportunity to govern arises again.
This follows the May elections which saw the EFF losing out on the national power-sharing agreement between the ANC, DA and other parties.
This was revealed in a governance discussion document ahead of its third elective conference in December, dubbed the national people's assembly.
The conference will not only elect new leadership, but it will seek to table critical policy direction which will shape the red berets' future.
The party wants to occupy a space in governance without diluting its commitment to economic emancipation.
“The decision to abstain from participation in the GNU raises the question of whether the EFF should continue this approach or seek other forms of power-sharing agreements that do not compromise its principles, appreciating that governing with a party like the DA will inherently compromise the EFF and is a far greater compromise without any hope of equally greater return.”
The party defended its decision not to participate in the GNU, pouring cold water on the claims that this 2024 power-sharing agreement can be likened to the inaugural GNU led by former president Nelson Mandela in 1994.
It states that the “2024 ANC-DA coalition” is a calculated political partnership aimed at maintaining power and preserving the status quo, particularly the protection of white capitalist interests.
“This coalition was presented as a GNU to obscure its true nature and to garner broader acceptance within the ANC’s ranks, but it fundamentally differs from the genuine GNU of 1994. The 1994 GNU, established under the terms of the interim constitution, was designed to include all political parties that won more than 20 seats in the national assembly.”
The ANC's government partners, the DA, has also labelled the GNU as a coalition between the two parties. In interviews after the GNU agreement, DA federal council chairperson Helen Zille accused President Cyril Ramaphosa of using the GNU to mask a coalition with the DA to appease ANC leaders who were against a grand coalition between the two parties. This caused tensions between the two partners with the ANC labelling Zille as rogue.
The EFF chose to remain outside this coalition, as participating in such an arrangement would have diluted its core mission of economic emancipation for black South Africans, it said.
It characterised the participation in the GNU as a betrayal of its political principle but conceded it will have to play ball to survive the coalition storms.
“At the core of these considerations is the question of power-sharing agreements. The EFF has positioned itself as a revolutionary party, unwilling to compromise its core principles for the sake of political convenience. However, as coalition politics become more common at both local and national levels, the EFF must grapple with the challenge of entering into governance arrangements without losing its political identity.”
The party is in a co-governing arrangement with the ANC and ActionSA in Gauteng metropolitan municipalities, taking up mayoral committee seats in Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni.
The coalition between the ANC and the EFF has been controversial, with the some leaders within the ANC mobilising for it to find new partners.
ANC mayor in Ekurhuleni Nkosindiphile Xhakaza fired EFF provincial chairperson Nkululeko Dunga from his post as finance MMC after the GNU agreement signalling that the party would move to have a coalition with the DA in the metro.
It is against this backdrop that the party said it seeks a better understanding about how to navigate its involvement in coalition arrangements in the future.
“The EFF will inevitably face difficult questions about its participation in governance, especially in light of the significant changes taking place in South Africa's political landscape. There are critical questions that demand serious attention if the EFF is to maintain its ideological integrity while remaining a relevant force in governance.”
Delegates will also be tasked with navigating the challenge of governing in a manner that distinguishes it from the ANC and other political parties.
Where the red berets have been given the opportunity to govern, there must be a clear focus on structural reforms and effective service delivery, the document stated.
The party must identify municipalities where it can implement its policies swiftly and effectively, thereby showcasing its ability to govern in a way that is distinct from other political parties. This strategy will be critical as the EFF prepares to take power on a larger scale.
“The failures of previous governments, particularly in areas such as corruption, mismanagement and inefficiency must be avoided. This requires the EFF to implement governance strategies that are not only ideologically sound but also technically efficient. The question is how the EFF can balance its revolutionary objectives with the need for practical, day-to-day governance.”
Another consideration is the strategic targeting of municipalities and provinces where the EFF can have the most impact in the shortest amount of time.
As the political landscape becomes increasingly fragmented, with coalition governments becoming the norm, the EFF must carefully select areas where it can assert its influence and demonstrate the effectiveness of its governance, it said.
“The party must identify municipalities where it can implement its policies swiftly and effectively, thereby showcasing its ability to govern in a way that is distinct from other political parties. This strategy will be critical as the EFF prepares to take power on a larger scale.
“The question of coalition management also requires serious consideration. As coalitions become more prevalent, particularly in hung councils and at the provincial level, the EFF must develop a strategy for managing these complex political arrangements.”
The discussion documents also hint at the establishment of a dedicated technical unit to oversee coalition dynamics and provide strategic guidance.
It said that such a unit would ensure that the EFF is able to navigate coalition politics without being drawn into arrangements that compromise its ideological stance.
“This is particularly important as the party seeks to expand its influence and govern in areas where coalition governments are the norm.”
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