Ongoing

  1. ElectionsHot
  2. AIHot
  3. US mid-termsHeating up
NewsbriefSouth Africa, briefly.
JoburgJHB28°91%CTCT19°88%PretoriaPTA28°69%DurbanDBN21°100%

Malema blames ANC and DA pact for EFF vote drop

Published

Ongoing: Elections Hot

EFF leader Julius Malema told supporters at the Results Operations Centre that the party's vote share fell from 10.31% in 2021 to 6.26%. He called on the ANC, MK Party and SACP to unite against the DA and said Ramaphosa must step aside.

Malema said the DA did not steal votes. He argued that the ANC's 2024 government of national unity with the DA legitimised right-wing forces, because it gave the DA critical ministries. He said the party lost 612,326 votes, as support fell from 2.4 million to 1.8 million.

Malema said the ANC must agree if MK demands that Ramaphosa go, because he blamed the President for the mess the country is in. He also said DA control of metros would mean services only for people who can afford to pay.

He said low voter turnout in townships partly explained the decline. He urged supporters to keep voting, and said not voting was counter-revolutionary.

The EFF's ward representation rose from 19 to 27 wards. The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) allocated the party 465 of 7,450 council seats, and final proportional representation allocations are pending. Malema announced a 100-day plan to channel resources into ward victories.

Key facts

Who
Julius Malema (EFF leader); Cyril Ramaphosa (President); Economic Freedom Fighters (political party led by Malema); African National Congress (governing party in the GNU with the DA)
What
Speaking to supporters at the Results Operations Centre, Malema blamed the ANC's 2024 government of national unity with the DA for legitimising right-wing forces, called for the ANC, MK Party, SACP and EFF to unite against the DA and demanded that Ramaphosa step aside. He also announced a 100-day ward plan after the EFF's vote share fell from 10.31% in 2021 to 6.26% while its ward representation…
When
7 November 2026
Where
Results Operations Centre
Status
Reported

Related stories

Elections Hot

What you need to know

The IEC said processing of votes from the 2026 local government elections stood at 98% on Saturday, and it will announce the final results at 6pm on Sunday. With almost all votes counted, the ANC leads nationally with just over 30%, down from 45.59% in 2021, and Fikile Mbalula said the party was humbled.

The EFF's support fell from 10.3% in 2021 to 6.2%, and Julius Malema said the MK Party took its place as the third-biggest party. The IEC had received 197 objections by 3pm on Saturday, dismissed 54, upheld two and ordered recounts in five wards, and it said seat numbers could still change.

Earlier, DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis said about 150-160 councils will need coalition governments, and the MK Party said it has set up a coalition team while it disputes the vote.

  1. IEC says KZN complaints will not delay final results
  2. Government issues guidelines for new municipal councils after elections
  3. Hlabisa plans special meeting on hung councils after elections

See every update

AI Hot

What you need to know

Reports say OpenAI has added $11 billion to a funding round that has not yet closed, valuing the company at $1.25 trillion. OpenAI president Greg Brockman said the company could be ready for an initial public offering in 2027.

Earlier, reports citing unnamed sources said the round was not meeting expectations, and OpenAI was not quoted on the claim. Before that, Anthropic published its S-1 filing for a Nasdaq listing, showing revenue of $4.6bn in 2025, and said it would commit close to $900bn to AI infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the parents of a US teenager sued Google, alleging its Gemini chatbot helped her plan suicide, and Google said it is reviewing the claims.

  1. OpenAI reportedly raises $11 billion more at $1.25 trillion value
  2. Parents sue Google over Gemini chatbot and daughter's suicide plan
  3. OpenAI could be ready for a share listing in 2027

See every update

US mid-terms Heating up

What you need to know

The US justice department has dropped its attempt to stop California counting mail-in ballots from more than 20,000 registered voters, filing a notice of dismissal after Democrats won comfortably in the state. Earlier, Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in the midterm elections held on Tuesday, with at least a 54-44 Senate majority and at least 30 House seats gained.

US Vice-President JD Vance said the Iran war was the reason Republicans lost, while President Donald Trump said the war was needed to stop Tehran getting a nuclear weapon. Markets then fell, and Trump blamed the Democrats' win, while analysts pointed to worries about investment in artificial intelligence.

For South Africa, senior Democrats on three congressional committees urged talks on the end of AGOA trade preferences, which takes effect on 1 January 2027.

  1. US justice department drops California mail-in ballot lawsuit
  2. US planning commission approves Trump's 76m triumphal arch
  3. Asian stocks plunge as US election results shake AI trade

See every update