Inanda – The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) launched its manifesto at JL Dube Stadium at the weekend amid tension with sworn rival Ngizwe Mchunu’s cultural event at Dube Village, opposite the Mall.
The tension was palpable because both events were scheduled for Saturday, 19 September 2026, at venues close to each other.
The previous day, EFF members clashed with Mchunu’s supporters, resulting in gunshots being fired.
Recounting the incident at the launch of the manifesto, EFF executive member Sibongile Khawula said she had to return to the site while arranging transport and logistics for the launch after seeing videos on social media of Ngizwe’s supporters carrying guns.
“I had to come back to check the situation,” she said.
Khawula said EFF supporters putting up posters were insulted and had their ladders kicked.
“EFF supporters were not carrying any guns, but Ngizwe supporters were carrying guns,” she said.
“The police were standing and doing nothing… I think police still have this tendency of favouring one party.”
The matter was reported to the police.
Later, Ngizwe warned on social media that, “they should not step on each other’s toes” because his event was going ahead.
On Saturday, both events took place amid tension and taunts.
EFF members carried placards denigrating Mchunu, who lost a highly publicised defamatory case brought by their leader, Julius Malema.
The EFF leader addressed supporters alongside eThekwini mayoral candidate Hlengiwe Mkhaliphi and outlined his party’s promises to voters.
On housing, Malema said, if voted into power, the EFF will “build RDP for the community of eThekwini, not these ANC [African National Congress] RDP houses where, when you go to the kitchen, you are already in the toilet.”
“The ANC will never give you free WiFi, because they don’t want to have access to information,” and “We are ending ANC; in 2026 don’t say you are voting for Mandela; he is no more.”
Commenting on the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party), which Mchunu is aligned with, Malema said: “You can’t vote for President Zuma; he is too old… You can’t vote for MK Party because it’s not the future.”
The EFF leader said the MK Party can’t be trusted because it “changes its structure now and then”.
Malema sarcastically asked, “How many MK Party General Secretaries have been appointed?”
Since its inception in December 2023, the MK Party has had eight Secretary Generals.
Malema pointed out that founding EFF member Hlengiwe Mkhaliphi has worked as the deputy secretary general for a long time.
“That is why you should trust us,” boasted Malema.
On 2024 losses, Malema said: “There were no internal problems in the EFF before 2020,” and “The real problem happened here in KZN with the MK Party.”
He said when Zuma was unsure where to go, people “came to the EFF looking for hope.”
He said the EFF must “establish its own constituency” and announced a return to KZN on 3 October 2026 before the Local Government Elections on 4 November 2026.
Malema said the EFF aims to recover “almost 300 000 votes.”
