EFF turns 7: Party winning with ‘caring strategy’, says analyst
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) celebrates its 7th birthday on Sunday having established itself as the country’s third biggest political party and one of its most vibrant voices.
While both the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) lost support during last year’s general elections, the EFF showed remarkable growth.
The red berets replaced the DA as the official opposition in Mpumalanga, while they almost doubled their support in the Eastern, Western and Northern Capes and improved on their total votes in KwaZulu-Natal five-fold.
The results allowed it to send 44 members to the National Assembly.
Political analyst Levy Ndou says the EFF has also cultivated a strategy around caring for the most vulnerable, exemplified by its decision to contribute R12 million to the Solidarity Fund.
The money came from its public representatives.
"Most other political parties have made contributions, but what the EFF is doing, is to say as role players in the South African political space we aren't supposed to speak only, we also make financial contributions and this is what you do when you are a caring party,” says Ndou.
“When your citizens need you most you have to show the love with whatever resources you have and that sends a message to citizens to say that they are a caring party.”
Ahead of the party’s 7th birthday, Ndou says the EFF has proved to be effective opposition to the ANC.
"We need to acknowledge that the EFF came at a time when there were serious issues affecting the ruling party, and when it came in the South African political landscape it brought in that renewed political energy in South Africa.
“What is central to its existence is to remind South Africans of the commitments and decisions taken in the past that seemed to be ignored (by government).”