By Mzoxolo Mpolase
For over a decade, Julius Malema has thrived on disruption, but disruption only works when there is an audience.
In the months following the EFF’s electoral losses in 2024, Malema found himself on the periphery of South African politics, struggling to maintain the visibility, momentum, and influence that once made him a fixture of political discourse.
The 1.28% drop in support, coupled with the rise of the Umkhonto Wesizwe Party (MKP) under Jacob Zuma, shifted the political landscape. Once seen as the biggest opposition disruptor, the EFF had lost its edge, plagued by internal turmoil and high-profile defections.
The exits of Floyd Shivambu, Mzwanele Manyi, Dali Mpofu, and Busisiwe Mkhwebane to MKP were not just personnel changes—they reflected a party in decline, where radical rhetoric was no longer translating into political gains.
Malema had become a politician without a clear purpose, firefighting internal factionalism while losing ground to newer populists. The most publicly damaging of these battles was the rift with his former spokesperson and close ally, Mbuyiseni Ndlozi.
For months, Ndlozi’s loyalty to the EFF had been in question, with speculation that he was orchestrating exits to MKP or even considering a move to the ANC.
Once Malema’s most trusted subordinate, Ndlozi’s supposedly disruptive influence within the party and his strained relationship with Malema fed into the broader narrative of an EFF in decline.
His case became emblematic of the EFF’s internal fractures—Malema had always ruled the party as his personal fiefdom, but his iron grip was slipping. The more he fought to maintain control, the more his authority was challenged.
I previously analysed this decline in the EFF’s appeal in The Star, where I argued that:
“The EFF party is weaker not only because of its poor showing in the elections earlier this year but also due to the steady haemorrhaging of its core leadership. Added to this is the increasing difficulty of selling the EFF to voters. The party’s radicalism, rooted in its ‘7 Cardinal Principles’ and extreme left ideology, can only take it so far.”
And then, Donald Trump and Elon Musk came along.
Trump’s Executive Order: A Foreign Policy Shift with Domestic Repercussions
The Trump Administration’s Executive Order on South Africa, titled “Addressing Egregious Actions of the Republic of South Africa”, marks a significant escalation in US-South Africa relations. The order cites three primary reasons for the sanctions:
- The Expropriation Act 13 of 2024, which, according to the order, allows the South African government to seize Afrikaner-owned agricultural property without compensation.
- A pattern of policies dismantling equal opportunity in employment, education, and business, which the US argues amounts to systemic discrimination against minority populations.
- South Africa’s diplomatic realignments, specifically its accusations of genocide against Israel at the ICJ and its deepening ties with Iran, which the US considers a direct national security threat.
This executive order isn’t just bluster—it has the potential to sink South Africa’s economy (read here).
The response from South Africa’s ruling establishment has been predictable—outrage, accusations of imperialist meddling, and defiance. But while the ANC government nonchalantly scrambles to contain the diplomatic fallout, Malema has seized the moment, turning an international political crisis into a domestic political opportunity.
Elon Musk vs. Julius Malema: The Unexpected Rivalry
Musk’s involvement in South African politics has been increasing, particularly as he has aligned himself with conservative narratives on crime, land expropriation, and white minority persecution. On 9 February, he escalated this stance dramatically by directly targeting Malema, posting:
“Immediate sanctions for Malema and declaration of him as an international criminal!”
This was political gold for Malema. Within hours, the EFF responded with a lengthy press statement, accusing Musk of imperialism, Western meddling, and economic sabotage.
I have extensively covered the ANC’s draconian policies, especially under current president, Cyril Ramaphosa, which fuel tensions and drive South Africa further into economic decline (read here).
But Musk’s intervention lacks nuance. His simplistic framing of the situation plays into talking points rather than a deep understanding of South Africa’s structural issues.
For Malema, however, Musk’s interference is a lifeline.
Why This Is Malema’s Political Lifeline
For months, the EFF has struggled with an existential crisis.
- The ANC is still dominant, despite its failures.
- The DA remains predictable but unthreatening, and is neutered by its coalition government with the ANC.
- MKP is the new populist force, drawing in many former EFF supporters.
But now, Malema is back in the national and international spotlight—not for policy, not for governance, but for being at the centre of an ideological war.
- He is once again the face of “anti-imperialist” resistance.
- He is a “target” of Western billionaires.
- He has a new political enemy to fight, one bigger than Zuma, MKP, the DA, or the ANC.
Malema’s entire political existence depends on struggle.
This is why the EFF’s press release was so swift and aggressive—because it isn’t about policy; it’s about optics. To Malema, being declared an enemy of the West is a political victory, not a setback.
The Final Verdict
The Trump-Musk-Malema showdown is not about solutions—it is about narratives, power, and political survival.
At the centre of all of this is a South African government that has failed its people for 30 years. If the ANC had governed competently, if economic policies prioritised growth over racial patronage, if corruption had not eroded public trust, there would be no political oxygen for figures like Malema to thrive on external battles instead of internal solutions.
Instead, South Africans are left watching a spectacle where global billionaires, failed politicians, and populist radicals fight for dominance—while the country continues its downward spiral.
The real question isn’t whether Malema will capitalise on this moment—he already has.
The real question is: What happens when the circus moves on?
Beautiful analysis!