Julius Malema has sparked fresh controversy by revealing that elderly EFF supporters are urging the party to scrap its non-discriminatory policy on distributing food parcels and blankets. According to the EFF leader, some elders feel that aid should be given exclusively to party members—claiming that helping non-EFF supporters is a waste of resources.
Malema shared that older voters have complained about people accepting EFF aid only to turn around and back rival parties. Some reportedly dismiss the idea of voting for the EFF, saying they “will never be led by a child”—a jab clearly aimed at Malema’s youth. The frustration, he says, lies in giving to those who show no political loyalty in return.
The remarks raise uncomfortable questions about whether humanitarian aid should be used as a political tool or remain separate from party allegiance. While some view the elders’ sentiment as a call for strategic loyalty, others see it as a dangerous path that risks politicizing poverty and punishing those in need based on how they vote. Malema didn’t endorse the idea outright—but by voicing it, he’s once again pulled back the curtain on the raw, transactional politics that often play out behind the scenes.
