EFF accuses ANC of ‘using’ it in government of national unity and budget talks

The Economic Freedom Fighters has accused the ANC of being disingenuous in its discussions with the Red Berets on the fiscal framework and the formation of a reconfigured government of national unity (GNU).

In an interview with the Mail & Guardian, EFF national spokesperson Sinawo Thambo said the party met the ANC last Friday after being invited to discuss the budget impasse, but criticised the talks as insincere and “at the last minute, when there’s a crisis or a need for votes”.

The meeting was intended to find alignment on the budget and fiscal framework passed in parliament early this month.

“They requested that we indicate where we agree or disagree with them, and we presented our own proposals, which we had already tabled with the standing committee on finance and sent to the minister of finance,” Thambo said.

The EFF was firm in its view that such talks were “futile,” given that the fiscal framework had already been adopted by parliament. 

“It was quite clear to us that the engagement was not genuine,” Thambo said, adding that the party felt “used” whenever the ANC needed critical support. “There’s a lack of trust.” 

Thambo’s comments come in response to ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula, who accused the EFF of abandoning its pro-poor stance after the party voted with the Democratic Alliance (DA) against the fiscal framework in parliament and took the ANC- government to court over the budget.

Mbalula said last week that the ANC had asked the EFF to abstain from the vote. 

“The EFF and its leader claim to oppose the DA and all that. But when the ANC approached them and requested that they must not support the VAT [increase]  and just abstain, what did they do? They voted, with who? The DA,” Mbalula said.

He added that if the roles were reversed, the EFF would not work with the ANC. “Now, if Malema and his party had the kind of majority we have, do you really think they’d be working with the ANC? They wouldn’t,” he said.

Thambo dismissed the accusation as hypocritical, arguing that it was the ANC that had failed the poor by pushing austerity measures and sidelining genuine discussions with opposition parties.

He said the EFF has drawn a line in the sand, stating that it will not support any budget legislation that is fronted by the DA or Freedom Front Plus (FF+), which had opposed the fiscal framework. 

“You can’t be in government, reject the budget and still want to preside over financial legislation,” Thambo said.

He reiterated the party’s broader stance on the unity government, saying the EFF is open to discussions on governance at the national level but only if the DA and FF+ are not part of it. 

“That’s always been our position,” he said. “If the DA is not going to be part of the GNU, we’re willing to work with the ANC. But if they’re still included, we won’t participate.”

In what appears to be a softening stance, the EFF has indicated its willingness to support the ANC through a “supply-and-confidence” arrangement rather than formal coalition. 

“We proposed this to them before and after the elections. We don’t have to be in government to ensure certain legislation passes,” said Thambo.

He said the EFF’s preferred solution to the budget impasse lies in alternative revenue strategies, including a one-off wealth tax, the reversal of the corporate tax cuts introduced in 2018 and taxation of pre-1994 family trusts, which “could raise significant revenue”.

Thambo said the ANC had not objected to the proposals in principle, but said they could not be implemented at this stage of the budget process.

He added that the meeting also touched on illicit financial flows and corporate tax evasion — areas where both parties found common ground. “We all agree that bolstering SARS’ [South African Revenue Service’s] capacity to deal with tax avoidance is crucial.”

But he remained critical of the ANC’s willingness to challenge the DA and FF+ within the GNU. 

“They’re being extorted,” he said, pointing to the DA’s legal action against government decisions and declarations by DA ministers that they would not implement certain laws. 

“We view this as chaos. If the ANC wants to be governed by capital and racist organisations, that’s their decision.

“We are not desperate to govern,” said Thambo, “but if the opportunity arises without those who oppose economic transformation, we will be ready.”

On local governance, the EFF says its internal turbulence has stabilised. 

Thambo said the party is now focused on grassroots rebuilding in preparation for the 2026 local government elections. “We’re going back to basics, branch building, membership drives and ensuring accountability in councils.”

He also hit back at suggestions by some ANC members that the EFF may be pushed out of power in Ekurhuleni. 

“The city deteriorated after our MMC for finance was removed. There was a R2 billion revenue shortfall almost immediately,” he said. “We’ve made our impact. If the ANC wants to collapse that relationship, so be it.”

Turning to global affairs, Thambo said the EFF believes South Africa must brace itself for potential turbulence with US President Donald Trump in power. “Trump is economically illiterate and politically volatile. There’s no point trying to maintain a dependency on the US. We must diversify our trade relations.”

The EFF has previously advocated for South Africa to move away from its dependence on Western markets, and to strengthen ties with Brics nations and other Global South economies. 

“We are not calling for hostility towards the US, but we must prepare for instability,” he said.