EFF and MK Party set to be kingmakers in 2024 general elections

EFF and MK Party set to be kingmakers in 2024 general elections

Independent Political Analyst Ongama Mtimka says that Julius Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and former President Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party will be big players in the upcoming May 29 elections, according to the latest poll results.

The survey, which was conducted by the African Innovation Research South Africa (AIRSA) in Durban, Johannesburg, and Cape Town, found that both the ruling ANC and the official opposition, the DA, were facing a considerable threat from the EFF and MK, particularly among younger voters and those in KwaZulu-Natal.

EFF LED BY YOUNG PEOPLE – POLITICAL ANALYST

The EFF emerged as the leading choice among the participants, according to Independent Online, which said that approximately 20% of the participants indicated they would vote EFF.

This was closely followed by the African National Congress (ANC), with about 18.4% of participants indicating they would be voting for the ruling party. In comparison, 17% of participants indicated they would vote for MK. The Democratic Alliance (DA) polled at roughly 13.3% of participants.

Independent political analyst, Ongama Mtimka, said the EFF is led by young people and very active, leading the youth to gravitate towards the party.

“They feel that their voice is more represented than anywhere else,” Mtimka said.

‘ELITE WERE NOT LOYAL TO THE STRUGGLE,’ SAYS MTIMKA

He said the youth felt the elite were not loyal to the struggle and the cause for a better life.

“The ANC’s policy offering is broad enough to accommodate a wide range of interest except that what they have done is to alienate a significant section of the voter base structure that dislikes corruption,” Mtimka said.

“So if it were not for corruption, the ANC would still be a party of choice for many South Africans across the racial spectrum who actually want an approach to a good politically economic class in the country,” he said.

Supporters of the DA were generally found among the middle to upper economic classes and represented a demographic that favours policies promoting economic stability and growth.

DA IS GOING TO ALIENATE BLACK MIDDLE CLASS VOTERS – MTIMKA

“I don’t think the upper class is going to be attracted to the DA in a coherent way,” Mtimka told IOL.

“The DA is going to alienate the black middle class and black entrepreneurial class because they go against the very same policies that created that class, such as affirmative action on black economic empowerment.

“So there is no way the DA can attract that particular class of the society because their policies are against them.

“I think that class may find the politics of the ANC and the newcomers a lot more appealing than the DA. But I think the DA represents an important constituency,” Mtimka said.

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