Parliament Erupts as Steenhuisen Declares the EFF Era Over Amid Coalition Collapse
Parliament was thrown into extraordinary turmoil during an emergency sitting when John Steenhuisen, leader of the Democratic Alliance, delivered one of the most incendiary and confrontational speeches heard in the National Assembly since the dawn of South Africa’s democratic era.
Speaking at a moment of acute political tension, economic anxiety, and public frustration, Steenhuisen declared with striking finality that the Economic Freedom Fighters and its embattled leader Julius Malema were politically finished.
The declaration landed like a thunderclap inside the chamber and immediately sent shockwaves across the national political landscape.
It came just hours after credible reports confirmed the public collapse of fragile coalition negotiations between the African National Congress and the EFF—talks that had barely moved beyond tentative engagement before imploding under the combined weight of ideological incompatibility, internal ANC resistance, public backlash, market volatility, and rising international concern.
As Parliament convened to debate the future of governance in the wake of the failed ANC–EFF courtship, Steenhuisen framed his address not merely as partisan criticism, but as a declaration that the country itself had reached a breaking point.
He argued that South Africans had already delivered their verdict, not only through elections, but through everyday expressions of anger and fatigue visible in workplaces, communities, and informal markets.
He punctuated this argument with a refrain that electrified the chamber: “The EFF are done. Julius Malema is done. The red berets are history.”
The moment he struck the podium to emphasize the line, chaos erupted.
EFF MPs leapt to their feet, shouting him down, while DA benches burst into applause.
Members of the Inkatha Freedom Party visibly signaled support.
The Speaker was forced to suspend proceedings for ten minutes as cries of “You are finished” and “History will judge you” echoed across the floor.
When order was restored, the atmosphere remained electric, with EFF MPs leveling accusations of racism, betrayal, and complicity with what they termed “white monopoly capital.”
Unmoved, Steenhuisen resumed his address with renewed intensity.
He doubled down on his core argument: that the electorate is exhausted by revolutionary slogans unaccompanied by workable solutions, by perpetual threats without coherent policy, and by political theater that provides emotional release but no tangible improvement in people’s lives.
He argued that the EFF built its appeal on fantasy economics and incendiary rhetoric, and that the ANC had nearly succumbed to that temptation before reality intervened.
According to Steenhuisen, the collapse of the coalition talks exposed what he derisively described as the ideological nakedness at the heart of both parties’ positions.
His speech came against the backdrop of mounting evidence that the ANC–EFF negotiations had collapsed behind closed doors due to irreconcilable differences on core policy pillars.
These included land expropriation without compensation, nationalization of banks and key industries, and disputes over cabinet composition and control—issues that strike at the heart of South Africa’s constitutional order, economic framework, and investor confidence.
Insiders at Luthuli House have since confirmed that a growing number of senior ANC figures have turned sharply against the idea of governing alongside the EFF.
Many are reportedly alarmed by the immediate political and economic fallout, including volatile market reactions and escalating international unease.
Particular attention has been drawn to warnings reportedly issued by the Government of the United Kingdom, which expressed concern about policy instability and investment risk should radical populist measures gain executive influence.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is now said to be facing mounting internal dissent, with party veterans viewing the flirtation with the EFF as a catastrophic miscalculation that has further eroded what remained of his reformist credibility.
Business leaders and executives have reportedly begun delaying investment decisions, reassessing exposure, and voicing concern that prolonged political turbulence could deepen an already fragile economic environment.
These fears have been echoed by civil society organizations warning that democratic norms, institutional independence, and constitutional safeguards could be weakened if radical populist policies were to gain traction.
Against this backdrop, Julius Malema appeared before the media shortly after the parliamentary session in what many observers described as an unusually subdued press briefing.
Although he attempted to dismiss Steenhuisen’s speech as irrelevant noise from a colonial voice, he struggled to project the trademark confidence and fiery bravado that have long defined his political persona.
He insisted repeatedly that the EFF was not going anywhere and that revolution was not a popularity contest, yet delivered these lines in a noticeably restrained tone that contrasted sharply with his past defiance.
This shift has not gone unnoticed.
Analysts and insiders report that several provincial EFF leaders are privately urging Malema to temper the party’s aggressive posture amid evidence that it is losing support among ordinary voters.
Even figures from the party’s old guard have reportedly begun questioning whether the confrontational style and ideological absolutism that once energized the base still resonate with an electorate increasingly desperate for credible plans to address unemployment, service delivery failures, crime, and economic stagnation.
Sensing an opening, Steenhuisen has moved swiftly to capitalize on the moment by intensifying efforts to assemble what he calls a new national compact—a pro-growth, pro-democracy alliance explicitly excluding both the EFF and the more radical elements within the ANC.
Framed as inclusive and patriotic rather than partisan, his appeal invites South Africans of all backgrounds to join what he presents as a rescue mission for the republic, grounded in constitutionalism, economic realism, and institutional stability.
Behind the scenes, the DA is reportedly in advanced discussions with the Inkatha Freedom Party, ActionSA, and several smaller regional formations.
The goal is to create a parliamentary bloc capable of exerting real pressure on ANC dominance, particularly in scenarios involving a motion of no confidence or even a snap election—outcomes that political risk analysts say are no longer implausible given the current volatility.
There is growing talk of convening a national convention to formalize this alliance and present it as a coherent alternative government ahead of any early poll.
Political commentators are already framing the events as a potential inflection point in South African politics.
Analysts argue that while the EFF is unlikely to disappear overnight, its ability to dominate the national conversation through shock tactics and rhetorical force has been fundamentally weakened.
Many suggest that the ANC’s decision to legitimize the EFF as a potential governing partner may ultimately be remembered as a grave strategic error that damaged both parties simultaneously.
Taken together, the scenes of parliamentary disorder, visible strain within the governing party, the reorganization and assertiveness of opposition forces, and the palpable unease among citizens and investors alike suggest that South Africa may be standing at the threshold of a profound political realignment.
Long-standing assumptions about power, alliances, and ideological boundaries are being tested under unprecedented pressure.
As the country braces for months of intense maneuvering, internal party battles, and possibly historic electoral outcomes, there is a growing sense that the choices made during this period will shape not only the composition of government, but the broader trajectory of South Africa’s democracy itself.
Few moments since the end of apartheid have carried such uncertainty—or such consequence.
