DA and Front Plus Killed Black People: Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has ignited fierce political debate after accusing the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Freedom Front Plus (FFPlus) of having blood on their hands.
Speaking during the EFF’s Land Reclamation Day event in Sophiatown, Johannesburg, Malema reaffirmed that his party would never enter into a government coalition involving either of the two opposition parties.
DA and Front Plus Killed Black People – Malema’s Explosive Accusation
Malema did not mince words during his address, declaring the DA and FFPlus as the “enemies of progress” and directly accusing them of a historical role in the oppression and killing of black South Africans.
“We will never work in a government that includes the DA or the Freedom Front Plus. Those are the people who killed our own people,” Malema said to loud applause. “If you want to know how the enemy looks like, look at the DA and FFPlus. Those are the enemies of progress.”
This bold statement comes at a time when coalition talks are becoming an inevitable part of South Africa’s political landscape ahead of the 2026 municipal elections and the next national elections.
EFF Maintains Anti-Coalition Stance With DA, FFPlus
The EFF has remained consistent in its position that it will not collaborate with any party that, according to them, stands against the liberation of black South Africans. Malema said joining a coalition with the DA and FFPlus would be tantamount to betraying the very people the EFF was created to serve.
“We don’t want to be in government at all costs. We want to be in a government of the people and for the people. The DA and Front Plus killed black people, and we will never forget that,” he said.
EFF insiders suggest that the party is more open to forming coalitions with other left-leaning parties or regional powerhouses like the ANC, provided those arrangements serve their policy goals such as land reform and economic transformation.
Rejection of VAT Increase: EFF Takes Anti-Poor Stance
In addition to distancing the EFF from the DA and FFPlus, Malema criticized the government’s proposed increase in value-added tax (VAT). Last week, Parliament approved a new fiscal policy framework that includes a potential 0.5% VAT hike, although the implementation has been postponed for 30 days to explore alternative revenue streams.
“We are refusing that VAT increase in South Africa,” said Malema. “VAT hits the poor the hardest. They should be looking at taxing the rich, not making bread more expensive for the unemployed.”
The EFF believes the proposed VAT hike is regressive and will only deepen poverty and inequality.
DA and Front Plus Killed Black People – Tied to Historical Injustice
Malema drew parallels between present political dynamics and South Africa’s apartheid past, saying that parties like the DA and FFPlus are heirs to the same ideologies that engineered black suffering. Reflecting on the forced removals in Sophiatown in 1955, Malema made an emotional appeal that connected historical injustice to modern-day struggles for land and identity.
“The removals in Sophiatown were not just about houses – they were about land, dignity, and black life. The DA and Front Plus killed black people by defending those systems then and defending white privilege now.”
He further likened the dispossession in Sophiatown to the current plight of Palestinians, drawing a controversial but intentional comparison aimed at garnering global solidarity.
EFF Supports Palestine, Cites Shared Struggle
Malema said the EFF’s unwavering support for Palestine stems from a shared experience of colonialism and forced removals.
“Sophiatown was like Palestine at some point,” Malema said. “We know forced removals. We know land dispossession. And that is why the struggle of Palestine is our struggle too.”
The EFF has been vocal in its backing of Palestine and often uses international issues to draw attention to South Africa’s own unresolved socio-political issues.
Critics Say Malema’s Rhetoric is Divisive
While EFF supporters applauded Malema’s remarks, critics have called his comments inflammatory. Political analysts warn that such rhetoric may deepen the already tense political climate, especially with coalition governments now becoming a necessity in many municipalities.
Political commentator Sibusiso Moyo said:
“There’s no doubt that apartheid parties and their modern-day successors carry historical baggage, but saying ‘DA and Front Plus killed black people’ is very charged. It may rally the EFF base but also polarizes potential voters.”
The DA and FFPlus have not officially responded to Malema’s recent remarks, though both parties have previously denied being racist or anti-black, citing their commitment to constitutional democracy.
