In classic fiery form, EFF leader Julius Malema has taken a swipe at President Cyril Ramaphosa while addressing the ongoing electricity crisis, saying South Africans want electricity that is “strong and dependable like me – not the kind that disappears when it rains or the wind blows, like Ramaphosa.”
Malema made the remarks while speaking to supporters during a community engagement event, where he criticized the government’s handling of the power crisis and called for free electricity for pensioners and social grant recipients.
“How do you expect a gogo living off a grant to pay for electricity?” Malema asked. “The state must provide power to our elders with dignity, not burden them with bills they can’t afford.”
His comments strike a chord with many struggling under frequent power outages, rising living costs, and service delivery issues, particularly in poor and rural communities.
Malema’s electricity pledge aligns with the EFF’s broader populist platform, which focuses on state-led development, nationalization of key resources, and pro-poor policies. However, critics question the financial feasibility of such promises, especially amid a strained national budget and ongoing infrastructure challenges at Eskom, the country’s embattled power utility.
The EFF leader’s remarks come as election season heats up, with political parties jockeying for influence over service delivery frustrations and the high cost of living.
