Economic Freedom Fighters' Debut in the Municipal Elections

Journal of Public Administration • Volume 51 • Number 3.1 • September 2016 596

Economic Freedom Fighters' Debut in the Municipal Elections

Sithembile MbeteUniversity of Pretoria

Abstract

TheEconomicFreedomFighters(EFF)hastransformedtheSouthAfricanpoliticallandscapesinceitwasestablishedin2013.Inthe2016municipalelection,theEFFwon8.2percentofthenationalvotemakingitthethirdbiggestpartyaftertheANCandtheDemocraticAlliance(DA).Itdidnottakeoveranymunicipalities,butitperformedwellenoughtobethekingmaker in13hungcouncils,includingthreemetros.ThispaperdiscussestheEFF'selectoralcampaignandperformanceinthe2016localgeneralelection(LGE).ItaskswhethertheEFFhastranscendedthepersonalitypoliticsofitsleadertoattractitsdesiredconstituencyonabroadscale.Hasthepartymanagedtomovebeyondapoliticsofspectacletodevelopthecontentofitspoliticalvalueproposition?Giventheorganisationalchallengesitfaces,whatareitsprospectsofbeingaseriouscontenderfornationalgovernmentin2019?

IntroductionTheEconomicFreedomFighters(EFF)hastransformedtheSouthAfricanpoliticallandscapesinceitwasestablished,in2013,byexpelledAfricanNationalCongress(ANC)

YouthLeaguepresident,JuliusMalema.Itwon6.3percentofthepopularvoteinitsfirstelectionin2014,allowingittotakeuptwenty-fiveseatsintheNationalAssemblyandtobecometheofficialoppositionintwoprovinces–LimpopoandNorthWest(IEC,2016a).Thiswasaremarkableachievementforapartythathadonlyexistedforafewmonths.Inthe2016municipalelection,theEFFwon8.2percentofthenationalvote,making it the third biggest partyaftertheANCandtheDemocraticAlliance(DA),whichwon53.9percentand26.9percent,respectively.TheEFFdidnotwinanycounciloutright,butreceived761seatsincouncilsnationwide(IEC,2016b).Thiswasasatisfactoryperformanceforanewparty,butfellshortofexpectationsthatitwouldbreachthe10percentthresholdortakeovergovernanceofsomemunicipalities(TimesLive,4August2016).

ElectoralsuccessistheleastoftheEFFstory,though.Through itsdisruptivepoliticalengagementinparliamentanditscleveruseofthecourts,theEFFhassucceededinsettingthenationalpoliticalagendaandstimulatingunprecedentedpublicinterestin the country's political institutions.Itwastheparty'sactivismthatkeptthe

Journal of Public Administration • Volume 51 • Number 3.1 • September 2016

Economic Freedom Fighters' Debut in the Municipal ElectionsSithembile Mbete

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issueofsecurityupgrades toPresidentJacobZuma'sNkandlahomesteadinthepublicconsciousness,longaftertheANChadhopedtosquashtheissue.TheEFFwasthefirstpartytohighlighttheroleoftheGuptafamilyingovernmentdecisions,makingtheterm"statecapture"apartofthepubliclexicon.Someofthetacticsthepartyusedweredisruptionandnon-cooperationinparliament,leadingtofrequentclasheswith the speakerofparliament,BalekaMbete,andresultedintheirbeing,forci-bly,removedfromtheNationalAssemblychamberonseveraloccasions.ItwastheEFFthatapproachedtheConstitutionalCourt,directly,toinstitutelegalactiontocontesttheadhocNkandlacommitteethat,theyargued,violatedthePublicProtector'sconstitutionalpowers.InApril2016,afullbenchofthecourtconfirmedthepowersofthePublicProtectorandfoundthatZuma"hadfailedtouphold,defendandrespecttheConstitutionasthesupremelawoftheland".(Grootes,2016).ThisfindingisthemostsignificantindictmentofZuma'sleadership,sincehebecamepresidentin2009,andsetthetoneforabruisingcampaignforthe2016localgovernmentelection.

ThattheEFFhashadsuchamajorimpactonSouthAfricanpoliticsindicatesthatthepartyhasprovenitselftobemorethan"a caseofmediahypeover substance"(Friedman,2014).Intherunuptothe2016municipalelection,observerswerecurioustoseewhethertheEFFwouldbeabletorepeatits2014success.Localgovernmentisnotoriouslydifficulttogovernandhasbeenthesiteofwidespreadservicedeliveryprotests across the country.Municipalgovernance issues, such as water andsanitation,roadmaintenanceandwaste

managementrequiretechnicalexpertiseanddonoteasilylendthemselvestothekindofpoliticalspectaclethathasservedtheEFFsowellatnationallevel.Sloganssuchas"Zuptamustfall"and"Paybackthemoney"arehardtotranslatetothemoremundaneadministrative issuesoflocalgovernment.Furthermore,themixedwardandproportionalrepresentation(PR)electoralsystematmunicipallevelrequiresanextensiveorganisationalmachinerytobeabletoputupwardcandidatesinasmanywardsaspossibleacrossthecountry.WouldtheEFFbeabletomobilise,atcommunitylevel,toputupwardcandidates?Wouldthepartyproveitselftobemorethanaone-manshow?

PopulismisausefullensthroughwhichtoassesstheEFF.Manyfeaturesofitspoliticsare consistentwith the riseofpopulistmovementsof "thepeople"against "theelite"inarangeofcontextsacrosstheglobefromtheBrexitcampaign,inBritain,totheRedShirts,inThailand.UsingaframeworkdevelopedbyMoffittandTormey(2014)inapreviousarticle,IanalysedtheEFF'spoliticsintermsoftheconstitutiverelationshipbetweenpoliticalstyleandsubstance.Thiswassignificant,becausetheparty'sdistinctivestylehasbeencriticisedformaskingalackofpoliticalsubstance.Inthesehighlymediatedtimes,whensocialmediahasmadeeveryonewithasmartphoneapotentialbroadcaster,theopticsandspectacleofpoliticsmattersmorethaneverbefore.WhilemuchofthedebateabouttheEFFhasbeenaboutwheretoplaceitontheideologicalspectrum(right-wing/fascistorleft-wing/progressive),IhavearguedthatthisisafalsedichotomythatdoesnothelpusunderstandtheEFF'spolitics,oritsappealtovoters.



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TheMoffittandTormey(2014)modelofpoliticalstylehasthreemainelements:1.Appealto"thepeople",whichtheEFFdidinitsfoundingmanifestowhereitstateditrepresentsthepoor,marginalisedmassesofSouthAfricawhocontinuetobeexploitedbypoliticalandeconomicelites.2.Theuseofcrisis,breakdownandthreattosimplifythetermsofpoliticaldebateandpromoteradical,decisivesolutionstopoliticalprob-lems.ThiswasseenintheEFF'suseoftheMarikanamassacre,beingexpelledfromparliamentarydebatesandtheNkandlacontroversytoadvanceitspoliticalagenda.3."Badmanners"ordisregardforbehavingappropriatelywithintherulesofformalpoliticalinstitutions.ThiswasseenintheEFF's"revolutionary"dresscodeandrefusaltoabidebycertainparliamentaryrules.

Themainpurposeofthisarticle,therefore,istodeterminehowthepartyhastranslatedorharnessed itspopulism in this localelection.Thisisacriticalpointofenquiry,forlocalelectionsarevastlydifferenttonationalelections.Forarelativelynewparty,contestinglocalelectionsisparticularlyhard,asitisstillestablishinglocalpresenceinmanypartsofthecountry.Thispresentsthechallengeofestablishingpartystructureswhile simultaneously, contesting localelections.Howthepartydealtwiththischallengereceivesattentioninthispaper.Followingananalysisoftheparty'sper-formanceinthiselection,thepaperexaminesitsprospectsinthenextnationalelections,scheduledfor2019.

Thearticlebeginswithabriefconceptualdiscussion toset the termsofanalysis.Then itmovesontoanexaminationoftheEFF's2016LGEcampaign,including

itsmanifesto,campaignmethodsandim-portantevents.Thirdly,itdiscussestheEFF'sperformanceintheelectionsaswellasitsroleintheformationofgovernmentsinseveralhungcouncilsacrossthecountry.ItcloseswithsomethoughtsontheEFF'sdevelopmentasapartyanditsprospectsforthe2019elections.

Election CampaignThe2016electioncampaigntookplacewithin a political context of vocal dis-satisfactionwithPresidentJacobZuma'spoliticalleadershipandseveralscandalsabouthisstewardshipofthecountry,in-cludingthefinancingofsecurityupgradestohisprivateresidenceandtheinfluenceoftheGuptafamilyoncabinetappointments.ThiscontextwasadvantageoustotheEFF,asithasbeenattheforefrontofthechargeagainstZuma'sleadership,theclimaxofwhichwastheverdictoftheConstitutionalCourton31March2016thatZumahadviolatedhistermsofofficebyfailingtocomplywiththePublicProtector'sreportontheNkandlaupgrades.Asthepartywascontestingitsfirstlocalgovernmentelection,theattentionandpublicityitreceivedfromitsstanceonnationalgovernmentissueswas an important entry point into its2016campaign.

However,thepartyfacedsignificantchal-lengesinmountingasuccessfulelectioncampaignatlocallevel,becauseofresourceconstraintsandthedifficultyofcontesting,nationwide, ineffectively258separateelectionsatonce(Fakir&Potgieter,2016).ThemixedwardandPRelectoralsystematlocalgovernmentbenefitsbigparties,becausetheycanputupcandidatesinall



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wardsinthecountryandwardvotesarecountedbasedontheoverallproportionofvotesthatisusedtoallocatePRseatsincouncils.ForarelativelysmallpartyliketheEFF,havingenoughcandidatestoruninwardsacrossthecountrycanbeamajorchallenge.Nevertheless,theEFFhadcandidatescontestingineveryprovincein thecountryandalmost themajorityofwards.ThispaperevaluatestheEFF'scampaignintermsoftheparty'srallies,itsmanifestoandcampaigncosts.

Rallies and Manifesto

Attendanceatpoliticalralliesandtheabil-ity tofillupstadiumswas,curiously,aparticularpointofcompetitionbetweentheANC,DAandEFFinthiselection.Whilethisseemsanarbitraryconcerninacountrytroubledbysuchsignificantsocio-economicchallenges,fillingstadiumsbecameaproxyforpoliticalsupportinuncertainpoliticaltimes.BothpoliticiansandpoliticalanalystswereuncertainoftheextenttowhichANCpoliticalscandalshadaffectedtheloyaltyoftheelectorate,theappealofaMmusiMaimane-ledDAand thepopularity oftheEFF.Thus,crowdsatralliesbecameayardstickforpoliticalactorsandobserversalike.AttheEFF'smanifestolaunch,on30April2016, atOrlandoStadium, aswellasthe30July2016TshelaThupaclosing rally at PeterMokaba stadiumin Limpopo, JuliusMalema contrastedtheEFF'sorganicsupportofpeoplewhowillinglyattendedpartyeventswiththealleged"rentacrowd"practiceoftheANC.HeconsistentlycontrastedtheEFF'sappealtothepeopleto"manipulation"bytheANC.TheEFF'scampaignreinforceditsimageasapopulistmassmovementwithwell-attended

ralliesandamanifestothatwasdevelopedthroughaprocessofconsultativemeetingswithconstituentsacrossthecountry.Thispopulism is reflected in themanifestopromises,whichresponddirectlytopopulargrievances,suchastheopeninghoursofmunicipaloffices,alackoffreshfoodintownshipsandinformalsettlementsandtheinaccessibilityofwardcouncillors.

Atthemanifestolaunch,Malemainsistedthatthepartywasmakingcommitments,notpromises,tothepeople,ashedidnotintendtoplaywiththeiremotionsliketheANChas(Munusamy,2016).HereinforcedtheEFFasapartyofblackSouthAfricansbyexplainingthechoiceofhostingthelaunchinSowetowiththewords"theumbilicalcordoftheEFFisburiedhereinSoweto",evokingthepracticeusedinallAfricanculturestointroduceachildtotheancestorsandestablishitshome(Malema,2016a).TheleadersandactivistsoftheJune1976uprisingwereinvokedastheancestorsinwhoselegacythepartyfollows.MalemasetouttoestablishtheEFF'srevolutionarycredentials,exemplifiedin"shakingpar-liament"byrejectingtheEurocentricdresscode and seeing to the eradication ofthecolonialandapartheidlegacyintheinstitution(Malema,2016a)

Intheopeningremarksofthemanifesto,Malemastatesthat"theEFFcontestspoliticalpowerthroughelectionswithinthedifficultconfinesofelectoralrulesandsystemsthatfavourexistingpoliticalparties.TheEFF'scontestationofpoliticalpowerthroughelectionsshould,however,notbemistakenwithourrevolutionarydeterminationtoremovethecurrentgovernmentbyotherrevolutionarymeans"(EFF,2016:1).Malema



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goesontocriticisethestructureoflocalgovernment, which he argues is inap-propriatefortheSouthAfricancontext.Thesystemofconditionalgrants,inwhichmunicipalities apply for funding fromprovincial andnational government, isdiscriminatoryagainstruralandpoormu-nicipalities,astheyareunabletogenerateadditionalincomefromtheirresidentsanditisunsuitablefor"apoliticallypolarisedenvironment",becausethesegrantscanbemanipulatedforpoliticalends(EFF,2016:1).Malema contends that the funding ofmunicipalitiesmerelyreproducesapartheidstructuralandspatialinequalities,becausethesystemisbasedonassumptionsthatallcitizensareemployed,liveinformalhousingandcansustainthemunicipalitythroughratesandtaxes.Thissystemisinappropriateinacountrywithhighunem-ploymentandpoverty.Thisclaimisfalse,however.Thesystemofconditionalgrantswas instituted to, specifically,mitigateincomeinequalitybetweenmunicipalitiesbyprovidingadditionalfinancialsupporttopoormunicipalities.Thisisanotherexampleoftheparty'spopulism,asitusespopularstatements that resonatewithordinarycitizens,regardlessoftheirfactualvalidity.Thisquestioningofthepoliticalsystemanditsadequacyforservingtheneedsof"thepeople",while,simultaneously,presentingamanifestoforparticipationinthesystem,isapopuliststrategythatallowsthepartytoaccepttheperksofparticipationwithouthavingtotakefullresponsibilityforthesystem'seffects.TheEFFisnowoneofthe "existingpoliticalparties" favouredby the electoral systembecause it canaccessfundsfromtheIEC,onthebasisofitsparliamentaryrepresentationandhasaccess to importantfinancial resources

suchastheshareitreceivesfromitsMPs'salaries.Yet,itcontinuestosetitselfapartfromtheeliteandidentifyitselfaspartofthemajorityofSouthAfricanswhoareexcludedfromformalpoliticalinstitutions.Strategically,thisallowsthepartytoem-phasiseits"newcomer"statusandminimisetheexpectationsoftheelectorate.

AccordingtoMalema,themanifestowasdevelopedoutof1000meetingsacrossSouthAfricatofindouttherealdemandsofthepeople.Theideasinthemanifestowere,thus,generatedbythe"poorestofthepoor"inruralareas,townshipsandsquattercamps–those"ordinarypeople,particularlytheblacknation,whoareignoredandnotlistenedtobyanyone"(Malema,2016a).Thegoalofrespondingtothedirectgrievancesofcommunitiesisevidentinthemanifesto,whichcontainsamotleymixofissuesthatfallwithinthejurisdictionoflocal,provincialandnationalgovernment.Thisisexplicitlystatedinthemanifestointroduction,whichsaysthatthepartyseekstousemunicipalitiesforeconomictransformationbygoingbeyondthelegislatedresponsibilitiesoflocalgov-ernmentandimplementingprogrammesforeducation,skills,safetyandsecurity,training,healthcareandthefoodeconomy.Thereareseven"corevalues"onwhichthemanifestoisbased:

● Buildinglocalstatecapacitywiththeaimofabolishingtenders.

● Creatingsustainablejobsforresidentsofthemunicipality.

● Provisionofqualitybasicservicessuchaswater,sanitation,healthcare,elec-tricityandcleancommunitiesforall.



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● Providingaconduciveandaccessibleenvironmentforeducation,skillsandtraining.

● Buildingandmaintainingqualityandsafeinfrastructureforallthroughlabourabsorptiveandefficientmethods.

● Stimulatinglocaleconomicactivityandparticipationthroughthelocalisationofeconomicactivities.

● Guaranteeingsafetyandsecurityforall(EFF,2016:5-6).

Specificmanifestopromisesareintendedto focus on the needs of "the people".Thesepromisesincludebuildingfreshfoodmarketsineachmunicipalitytoselllocalproduce,openingmunicipalofficessixdaysaweektoaccommodatefull-timeworkers,andthedirectemploymentofallmunicipalworkerswithadecentwageandbenefits.One of the primary responsibilities ofmunicipalitiesisthezoninganddistributionofland.Municipalitiesoftenownextensivetractsof landandarealso responsiblefordeterminingthepurposesforwhichprivatelandcanbeused.GiventhatlandexpropriationisoneoftheEFF'sorganisingtenets,itsmanifestocommitmentsonlandare important.Among itspromisesarepassingby-lawstoexpropriateandallocatelandequitablyforresidential,industrialandotheractivities"withtheprincipleofuseitorloseit",allocatinglandto"ordinarycitizens",allocatingstandstopeopleforfree,theprovisionofbulkservicestoalllanddesignatedforresidentialuse,providingadditionallandforburial,providingbulkirrigationservices foragricultural landandmakinglandavailableforreligious,

recreationalandsportingfacilities(EFF,2016:9-10).Thepartycommitstobuildingspacioushouseswithaseparatekitchen,livingareaandaminimumoftwobedroomstoallowparents"totoucheachotherwithoutthedisturbanceofchildren"andimprovethequalityoflifeofthepeople(EFF,2016:13;Malema,2016a). In those caseswherepeoplecanaffordtobuildhouses,thepartypromisestoprovidestandswithallbasicservicesincludingflushtoilets.Thiskindofdirectappealtopeople'simmediateneedswasmetwiththeloudestcheersbythecrowdatOrlandoStadiumandisindicativeoftheeffectivenessoftheEFF'spopulistmessage.

AnotablefeatureoftheEFF'smanifestocommitmentsistheirfocusonthecharacterandresponsibilitiesoftheparty'selectedlocalgovernmentrepresentatives.Aftercriticising the non-responsiveness andunaccountabilityofANCcouncillors,theparty setsout a list of idealbehaviourforitsrepresentatives.TheseincludeEFFcouncillorsresidingwheretheyareelectedandhavinganopendoorpolicyintheircommunities,holdingatleastonecommun-itymeetingpermonth,beingavailable24hoursperday,beingamother/fatherfiguretoallorphansintheirwards,makingsurenooneintheirwardsgoeshungry,assistingintheburialofallpoorpeopleintheirwardsandensuringthatallschoolsandclinicsintheirwardshavewaterandelectricity.AmongthequalitiesoftheEFF'srevolutionarycouncillorsare:

● Arevolutionarycouncillorisawell-informed/knowledgeableprofessionalin the way he/she approaches thepoliticalquestionofrevolution.



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● Arevolutionarycouncillorabolisheshis/heregoandattachmentstopersonalsuccess;sheorheisselfless.

● Arevolutionarycouncillorisneverde-pressed,boredandsad;thereisalwayssomethingtodoandrevolutionaryac-tionstobetaken.

● Arevolutionarycouncillordoesnotholdgrudgesorcomplainaboutun-necessarymatters.

● Arevolutionarycouncilloralwaysreadsandlistenstopeopletounderstandthestrugglesandsufferingofthepeopleontheground.

● Arevolutionarycouncillordoesnotdwellintheconspicuousconsumeristpracticesthatseektoblindlyshowoffprivilege(EFF,2016:22-23).

Thesestandardsofconductareunrealisticevenbymanifestostandardsastheyexpectalmostsuperhumanlevelsofenergyandcommitmentfromthemeremortalswhostandforpublicelection.Itissignificantthatthesecommitmentsapplytodirectlyelectedwardcouncillors,morethanthoseelectedonthePRballot.SincetheEFFendedupwinningveryfewwardsinthiselection,receivingthemajorityofitscouncilseatsonthePRportionofthemixedsys-tem,thesearecommitmentsthatwillnotbewidelytestedinpractice.

Campaign Funding

AmidrumoursthattheANCspentnearlyR1billiononitscampaignandtheDAspentR350million,thereweremanyquestions

askedaboutthecostoftheEFF'scampaignandhow it raised funds. In2015, theparty'snationalspokesman,MbuyiseniNdlozi,admitted that "ThequestionofresourcesisthebiggestchallengefortheEFF.Findingthemoneyforcampaigningtohavetheabilitytosupportthemovementistough"(eNCA,24July2015).ThepartyhostedafundraisinggaladinnerafteritsmanifestolaunchinMay2016.Address-ingabout100potentialdonors,Malemareportedlyasked them tocommit toamonthlysubscriptionofR1000amonthtotheparty.Hereportedlysaid"Ifyouaretruetothecause,askfortheformstosignasubscriptionandsay:‘I'mgoingtodonateR2000,R3000,R1000,totheEFFeverymonth."Especiallythenextthreemonths–theyareverycrucial(TheCitizen,2May2016).

Aftertheelection,MalemastatedthatthepartyhadspentlessthanR10milliononitsentirecampaign.InaninterviewwithSamMkokeli(2016)fromtheFinancialMail,hesaidoftheparty'scampaignmethod,"it'snotexpensiveatall,becauseintheEFFwemaximisethelittleresourceswehave.Wesleepinthesamerentedplaces,wesharethesmallaccommodation,wetravelinthesamecars,wehavenoconvoysandthemobilisationdependslargelyonwordofmouth,becausetherearenopostersandnoleaflets".Apparently,thepartyhadanumberoflargelogisticstruckscontainingpublicaddresssystemsthatallowedthemtoorganisemeetingsandralliesonthespot.AccordingtoMkokeli,severalcommunitymeetingswerehosteddailywithMalemadoing"threesuchmeetingsaday,withhisleadershipcolleaguesdoingthesameinotherpartsof thecountry".Aparty



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spokesmansaidthisallowedthepartytospeakto"plus-minus50000peopleinadayandwehaven'tspentmorethanR10000."(Mkokeli,2016).

AtthePolokwanerally,MalemaexplainedthattheEFF'scampaignwasfundedthroughitsallocationfromtheIEC,compulsorycon-tributionsfromitsMPsandabankloanfromStandardBank.Headded:"Wedidn'thavemoneyfromgovernment.Wedon'thavemoneyfromtenderpreneurs.Wedon'thavemoneyfromallthosedodgycharacters"(Malema,2016b).Todispelanydoubts,Malemachallengedthemediatolookattheparty'sbookstoseewhereitsmoneycomesfrom,astheyhavenothingtohide.ThepointwastounderscorethattheEFFisnotaproxyforanyinterests;itsmembersarecommittedtotheparty'scause;hence,they'remakingfinancialcontributions;andthatthepartyisgenuineinitsmessage.This,thepartyargued,putthemincontrasttotheANC.

Accordingly,theANC'suseofmoneyforitscampaignisapointtheEFFfrequentlybroughtupduringandaftertheelection.On8September,thepartyopenedacaseofcorruptionandmaladministrationagainstformerTshwanemayor,KgosientsoRamok-gopa,fortheallegeduseofthemunicipalbudgettopayforANCbillboardsduringtheelectioncampaign.Tshwanecouncillor,BenjaminDisoloane,accusedtheANCoffinancialmalfeasance:"FinancialresourcesoftheCitywere,fraudulently,usedtoboosttheelectoralfortunesofthecorruptanduselessANCintheirdismalbidtowintheCityagain.DespiteusingtheresourcesoftheCitytocampaign,theresidentsofTsh-wanestillrejectedthecorruptANC"(eNCA,

9September2016).TherelationshipbetweenmoneyandpoliticsisasorepointformanySouthAfricancitizens,asitisseenasthesourceofgovernmentcorruption.APewGlobalsurveyfoundSouthAfricansrankedgovernmentcorruptionasthethirdbiggestproblemfacingthecountry(aftercrimeandalackofemploymentopportunities)(Wikeetal.,2016).TheEFFcleverlyplayedontheseconcernstodistinguishitselffromtheANCandtoalsoprotectitselffromac-cusationsofcorruption.

Election PerformanceTheEFFimprovedonitsprevioustally.Italso landed in the covetedpositionofkingmakerinseveralimportantcouncils,includingfourmetropolitanmunicipal-ities.

Breakdown of Electoral Performance

TheEFFhadanotableperformanceintheelection,winning8.19percentofthevotecomparedtothe6.3percentthatitwonin2014,anearlytwo-pointincrease.ThismadeitthethirdbiggestpartyaftertheANC,whichwon53.9percent,andtheDA,whichwon26.9percent.In2014,theEFFwonatotalof1169259ofthenationalvote,whichalmostdoubledinthiselectionto2282385.Thepartydidnotwinanycounciloutright,butwon761seatsnationally.MostoftheseseatswerePRseats.TheEFFwononlyeightwardseatsnationwide,whichwasabigdisappointmentforapartythatclaimstorepresentthewillofthepeople.Aprovincialbreakdownoftheparty'sper-formanceprovidesapictureofwhereithaditsstrongestshowing.



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Fromthetableabove,itisclearthattheEFFimproveditsperformanceinalltheprovinces. ItreceivedthemostvotesinGauteng,LimpopoandNorthWest,whichconsolidates these provinces as partystrongholds.IntheNorthWestandLimpopo,itwasthesecondbestperformingpartyaftertheANC.TheEFF'sperformanceinLimpopoandNorthWestchallengestheidea,panderedaftertheelection,thattheANClostsupportinonlyurbanareas,thusbecomingaruralparty.Inthesemostlyruralprovinces,theEFFsucceededinerodingtheANC'ssupport.AsPhadi,PearsonandLesaffre(2016)argue,theEFF's"ideologyresonateswithlifeexperiencesinthisruralminingmilieu.Duringtheelections,self-professedEFFvotersechoedsomeofthekeypillarsoftheparty'smanifesto.Callsforeconomicfreedomanddenunciationsof whitemonopoly capitalism strike achordwithmanywhoseprincipalsourceofemploymentcomesfrommassivemulti-nationalcompanies."Furthermore,severalEFForganiserswerelocalactivistswithahistoryofpromotingcommunityandlabourstrugglesthatpredatetheEFF.These

activistscontributedtotheEFF'ssuccessbyconnectingtheparty'srhetorictolocalissues.Theroleplayedbythesekindsofgrass-rootsactivists,ingrowingtheEFF,hasbeenunder-investigatedbythemediaandpoliticalanalysts.

InMpumalangaandtheNorthernCape,thepartygrewbyoverthreepointscomparedto2014. Itappears tohavebeenmoredifficult for the party tomake inroadsintotheEasternCapeandWesternCape,whereitwon5.3percentand2.73percent,respectively.ThisoverallperformancemasksthefactthatintheBuffaloCityandNelsonMandelaBaymetrosthepartyperformedwellincertainwards,erodingtheANC'ssupportbase.Forexample,inKwanobuhleandMotherwell,thepartywon11.2percentand11.27percentrespectively.KwanobuhlewasastrongholdoftheNationalUnionofMetalworkersofSouthAfrica (NUMSA,whichwasformerlypartoftheANCalliancethroughtheCongressofSouthAfricanTradeUnions(Cosatu))in2015,buthassupportedoppositionpartiessincethen.ItappearsthatdisgruntledANCvotersinthatareashiftedtotheEFF.TheEFFwonward43bydefault,becausetheANCfailedtoregisterawardcandidate;significantly,itbeattheUnitedFrontcandidate,reflectingitssuccessinovertakingNUMSAinattractingworkingclasssupport.

The Kingmakers

Despitenotwinningcontrolofanycouncil,theEFF'selectoralperformanceallowedittobekingmakerinseveralhungmunicipal-itiesacrossthecountry.Thereweretwenty-sevenhungmunicipalitiesnationwideineveryprovinceexceptMpumalanga.The

1.641.801.081.626.073.142.393.750.621.96

2014Province 2016 Gain/LossEC 3.48 5.12FS 8.15 9.95GAUTENG 10.30 11.38KZN 1.85 3.47LIMP 10.74 16.81MP 6.26 9.40NW 13.21 15.60NC 4.96 8.71WC 2.11 2.73NATIONAL 6.35 8.31

Source: Electoral Commission of South Africa

TABLE 1: EFF gains/losses perprovince by percentage



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WesternCapeandKwaZulu-Natalhadthemosthungmunicipalitieswitheightandseven,respectively.Amongthehungmu-nicipalitieswere fourmetromunicipal-ities,includingtheCityofJohannesburg,EkurhuleniandTshwaneinGauteng,andNelsonMandelaBayintheEasternCape.ThehungmetrosaredisplayedinTable2below.

ThebiggestimplicationofthelossofthemetroswasthattheANClostcontrolofasignificantportionofthelocalgovernmentbudget.Two-thirdsofallspendingatmu-nicipallevelisdonebytheeightmetros,atotalbudgetofR233bnin2016.TheANCsecuredanelectoralmajorityinonlythreeofthoseandaminoritygovernmentinone.Itheldsevenbeforetheelection.Johannesburg'sbudget isthe largestatR56.2bn,withTshwaneatR32.5bnand

NelsonMandelaBayatR11.3bn.Ekurhuleni,wheretheANCformedacoalitiongovern-ment,hasR37.4bn.CapeTown,whichhasbeengovernedbytheDAfortenyears,hasR40bn.TheANCretainscontroloverBuffaloCity(R7.6bn),eThekwini(R38.5bn),andMangaung(R9.6bn).TheANCnowcontrolsonly40percentofthebudgetformetromunicipalitiescompared to83percentbeforetheelection.Thistranslatestoamassivelossofresourceofpatronage,aswellasanopportunitytodemonstratethatitcanimprovethelivesoftheever-importanturbanvoters.

After the election, the EFF said that itwasopentospeakingtoanypartythatapproacheditforacoalitiondeal,butitwouldnotengageinanynegotiationthatsoughttounderminethewillofthepeople.Itwouldapproachnegotiationswiththe

Party Johannesburg Ekurhuleni Tshwane Nelson Mandela BayACDP 1 1 1 1AIC 4 4 0 1Al Jama-ah 1 0 0 0ANC 121 109 89 50COPE 1 1 1 1DA 104 77 93 57EFF 30 25 25 6FF+ 1 2 4 0IFP 5 2 0 0IRASA 0 1 0 0PA 1 1 0 1PAC 0 1 1 0UDM 1 0 0 2UFEC 0 0 0 0Total 270 224 214 119Governing Coalition DA+ ANC+ DA+ DA+

Source: Electoral Commission of South Africa

TABLE 2: Hung metropolitan municipalities



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ANC from a principle of no coalitions,becauseitrefusedtolegitimisetheZumaadministration.ThisleftittoconsideracoalitiondealwiththeDA,apartywiththeexactoppositeideologicalandpoliticalfoundations.ManyquestionedthewisdomoftheEFFgoingintocoalitionwithapartythathasprivateproperty,capitalism,deregulationandminimalstateinterventionassomeofitskeyideologicaltenets,especiallyinthethreeGautengmetrosthatmakeupSouthAfrica'seconomicheartland.Inhispost-electionpressconference,Malemamadeitclearthathispartywouldnotpursuecoalitionsatallcosts.IntheinstanceoftheDA,thismeantthattheEFFwouldnotjoinacoalitionwiththeDAunlesstherehadbeenanagreementonlandexpropri-ationandnationalisation.HesetoutthreepossibleoptionsbeingconsideredbytheEFF:1.Coalitions;2.Re-runofelections–memorablepoliticalrhetoric,butnotanoptionwithintheMunicipalElectoralAct;3.Abstain–choosingtoabstainfromallelectionsformayorsandspeakersinhungmunicipalities(IOL,5August2016).

In the event, the EFF decided againstformingacoalitionwitheithertheANCortheDA.ThedecisionwasannouncedatapressconferenceinAlexandrainthemiddleoftheveld,outsidetheinformalsettlementofSetjwetla.Thechoiceofthelocationwasamasterfuluseofopticsandpoliticalspectacleas itwas theperfectjuxtapositiontotheDA'spressconferenceheldtwohourslater,onthesameday,inaplushboardroominwealthySandton,lessthan10kmfromAlexandra(HeraldLive,17August2016).Atthepressconference,MalemadetailedtheconditionshispartyhadsetforacoalitionwiththeANC,includingthe

removalofJacobZumaaspresidentofSouthAfricaandthenationalisationofminesandbanks.BecausetheANCrefusedtoaccedetotheseconditions,Malemaexplained,theEFFdecidednottogointocoalitionwithapartyof"kleptocracyandcorruption".TheEFFalsorefusedtojoinaDAcoalition,becauseitwas"thepartyofwhiteracists"(Malema,2016c).MalemawasinsistentthattheEFFwouldonlygointopowerthroughadecisivemandatefromthepeopleandnot"throughashortcut".

Nevertheless,thepartyhaddecidedtosupportoppositionpartiestoformgovernmentsinthevarioushungmunicipalitiesbyvotingwiththemtoenablecouncilstobeformed,butitwouldnotparticipateingovernance.WhatthismeantwasthatthepartywouldvotewiththeIFPinKwaZulu-Natal,theServiceDeliveryForuminRustenburgandtheDA in the fourhungmetros.WhenaskedaboutthecontradictionsbetweentheEFFandDA'spolicypositions,MalemadescribedtheDAasa"betterdevil"thantheANC(Malema,2016c).TheEFF'svoteinfluencedtheelectionof leadersin14outof27hungmunicipalities,asnotedinTable3onthefollowingpage.IthelpedbringDAmayorstopower inTshwane,JohannesburgandNelsonMandelaBay,SollyMsimanga,HermanMashabaandAthollTrollip,respectively.

TheEFFvotedforDAmayorsinMetsimaholomunicipalityintheFreeState(EWN,22August2016),MogaleCity inGauteng(EWN, 19 August 2016), Modimolle/Mookgopong (BusinessDay, 23August2016)andThabazimbi(SABC,26August2016)inLimpopo.OneoftheEFF'sgoalswastovoteouttheANC'sleadershipin



607

Rustenburg,insupportoftheminersinMarikana.Afterthefirstattempttovoteformunicipal leaderswasdisruptedbyfightingbetweenEFFandANCcouncillors,theANCsucceededinhavingincumbentMayorMphoKhunonre-elected.

InKwaZulu-Natal,theEFFvotedwiththeIFPtoenablethelattertotakecontroloftheAbaQulusi(VryheidHerald,23August2016),Endumeni(NorthernNatalCourier,18August2016)andJozinimunicipalities.Afterfiveunsuccessfulattemptsatformingagovernment, itseemedasthoughthe

JoziniresultwouldbedecidedbyacointossuntilamysteryspoiltballotwithintheANC-factiongavetheIFPcandidatethelead(BusinessDay,16September2016).TheelectionofofficialsinNqutuwasstillpendingatthetimeofwritingbecausetheEFFhadexpelleditsPRcouncillorfromthepartyandhadtakenhimtocourttopreventhimfromtakinghisseatinthecouncil.Thecouncillorobtainedacourtorderon1Septembertoretainhisposition,sotheEFFobtainedacourtordersuspendingallmunicipalmeetingsuntilacourthadsettledtheintra-partydispute(IOL,13September

Rustenburg

Modimolle/Mookgopong

ANC 13, DA 7, EFF 6,VF+ 2

ANC 43, EFF 24, DA 14,F4SD 4, AIC 1, VF+ 1,UDM 1, BCM 1

ANC+

Seat AllocationMunicipalityProvince TotalSeats

MinimumRequired

WinningCoalition

4589

DA+

Undecided

3977Gauteng

North-West

Limpopo

Metsimaholo

IFP+

IFP+

IFP+

IFP+

DA+

DA+

713KwaZulu-Natal

Mogale City

Endumeni

1733

2344

2140

2140

1223

1528

Nqutu

AbaQulusi

Jozini

Mtubatuba

Thabazimbi

ANC 19, DA 12, EFF 8,MCA 2, VF+ 1

ANC 38, DA 27, EFF 9, VF+ 2, IFP 1

ANC 6, IFP 4, DA 2,EFF 1

IFP 15, ANC 14, NFP 2,EFF 1, DA 1

ANC 21, IFP 19, DA 3,EFF 1

ANC 19, IFP 18, EFF 1,DA 1, Independent 1

IFP 18, ANC 18, DA 2,EFF 1, AIC 1

ANC 10, EFF 5, DA 5,TRA 2, VF+ 1

DA+2242Free State

Source: Paul Berkowitz http://paulberkowitz.co.za/coalition-politics-whats-possible-outside-of-the-metros/

TABLE 3: Hung local municipalities in which the EFF was influential



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2016).Thisdelayedtheformationofagov-ernmentinNqutu.

TheNqutucaseisthemostextremeexampleof the inherent tensions in formingandsustaininggovernmentsinhungcouncils.TensionsbetweentheEFFandDAinJohan-nesburgemergedwhenHermanMashabaannouncedthatthecitywouldprivatisetherefuseremovalservice,Pikitup.TheEFF threatened to challenge any suchprivatisation,asitgoesagainsttheparty'scoreprinciples(IOL,31August2016).On14September,theEFFreiteratedthatitwoulddecidewhethertosupportanyinitiativesoftheDA-ledmunicipalities,onacase-by-casebasis,inTshwaneandJohannesburg.TheEFF'sGautengcommandcommitteditselftocontinuinglandinvasionsinbothcitiesandit"puttheDAonnotice"shoulditsadministrationsfighteffortsbytheEFFtotakeunutilisedland(TheCitizen,14Sep-tember2016).

Prospects for 2019The2016municipalelectionshaveconsoli-datedtheEFF'splace,asaninfluentialpoliticalactor,inthecurrentperiodoftransitioninSouthAfrica.WiththedeeplyfactionalisedcontestationintheANC,thechangingcom-plexionoftheDA,crisisinpublicadministrationandpooreconomicperformance,theEFFhasemergedasapartythatspeakstopopularconcernsanddesires.Itsmessageofnational-isation,expropriationandAfricanisationres-onateswithasignificantproportionofthepopulation.Theextenttowhichitbuildsonthegainsitmadeinthiselectionwilldeter-mineitsfutureprospects,especiallyinthecoming2019election.Threemainchallengesareworthhighlighting.

Party Organisation and Discipline

Developingasustainablepartystructurethatnotonlymobilisespeopletoattendrallies,butalsoorganisesthemintore-cruitment,fundraising,researchandpolicyunits iscriticalfortheEFF's longevity.TogetherwiththeDA, theEFFhasthepotentialtopushtheANC'selectoralsupportbelow50percentin2019,butthiswillonlybepossiblethroughsustainedpartyorganising. Signsof discontentwithinthepartyemergedafter themunicipalelections,withnewlyelectedcouncillorsrefusingtogive50percentoftheirsalariestothepartyleadershipfortheirfirstthreemonthsinoffice(TheCitizen,5September2016). This is a requirement to be arepresentative for theparty,meant topayoffaloanthepartysecuredtocontestthelocalelections.Malemawasquotedassaying"ThepartylevyisgoingtohelpEFFnottobecapturedbyprivatedonors"(IOL,5September2016).

ThepartyleadershipalsopledgedtoremovePRcouncillorsinwardswherethepartyreceivedlessthan100votesandreplacethemwithcandidatesfromwardswheretheEFFreceivedthemostvotes.Malemaarguedthatthesecouncillorshadnotfulfilledtheirdutytowinvotesforthepartyandtheywouldbeforced"tobecomecommunityactivists"(TimesLive,5September2016).ThereasonforthiswastoavoidbecomingliketheANCand"hoardingalargegroupofcareerists".AccordingtoMalema,"theprincipleofrewardingprogressandrejectingmediocritywill,henceforth,underpintheEFF'slistprocesses,includinginthelead-uptothe2019generalelection".(TimesLive,6September2016).



609

Thesekindsof top-downdecisionsriskalienatingtheparty leadershipfromitssupportbase.Thisis,especially,thecasein areas where its grassroots supportcomes from existing local activism.AsPhadi,PearsonandLesaffre(2016)state,somepartyactivistsinLimpopo"fearthattheANC'sauthoritativedecision-makingstyleisbeingreconfiguredwithintheEFF".AnEFFspokespersonencapsulatedthisconcern:"TheminuteMalemacomeshereandwantstocontrolus,andnotlistentous,that'swhenIwillstarttofighttheEFF.IsupportthepoliciesoftheEFF,notJuliusMalema."Inanotherincident,soonaftertheelections,adisgruntledgroupofEFFactivistsineThekwiniMunicipalitycalledfortheparty'sRegionalCommandTeamtobedisbanded,becauseofallegeddiscrepanciesinthelistofregionalPRcandidatesthatthepartysubmittedtotheIEC(SABC,20August2016).TherewerealsodisputesaboutthecouncillistinSedibengDistrictMunicipality(TheCitizen,16August2016).Asaresult,thepartyhasdisbandedprovincialleadershipsofKwaZulu-NatalandtheEasternCape,forilldisciplineandthemisrepresentationofpartymembership.

Thelegacyoftheparty'soriginsintheANCandthedeepdistrustoftherulingpartyleavetheEFFvulnerable.ItsabilitytodevelopanewpartycultureuniquefromtheANC,aswellasdevelopingafunctionalgrassrootsnetworkof activists,will determine itsfuturesuccess.

Governance Challenges

TheEFF'sdecisionnottojoinanycoalitionsandtoremaininoppositioninallhungmunicipalitiescameasasurprise.Many

anticipatedthatthepartywouldbeeagertotestitsrevolutionaryidealsinpractise.Furthermore,positionsinmunicipalgovern-mentcomewithexcellentsalarypackages,whichwouldbeaboonbothtoindividualcouncillorsandtothepartythatwouldreceiveashare.Bydecidingtostayoutofgovernment,theEFFstayedtruetoitsfundamentalideals,butforfeitedthebenefitsofincumbency.ThisisunusualinAfricanpolitics(andindeed,SouthAfricanpolitics),wherethedesireforpoweroftenoverridesotherstrategicconsiderations.GiventheEFF'sinexperienceinmunicipalgovernanceanditsstridentrhetoric,remaininginop-positionwasthebeststrategicdecisionfortheparty.Muchofmunicipalgovernanceisabouttechnicalservicedeliveryissuessuchassanitation,waterprovisionandroadmaintenancethatdonotlendthemselveseasilytotheEFF'srevolutionaryrhetoric.Thepartydoesnothavemanyofthetechnicalskillsandknow-howrequiredtobeeffectiveatmunicipallevel.Sothedecisiontoavoidthetestofgovernance,atthisstageinitsformation,isshrewd.AsMalema(2016c)statedintheAlexpressconference,"weare not an organisation of positions".Heinsistedthattheprimarygoalwastobuildtheparty,indicatingthattheparty'sleadershipistakingalongviewofitsroleinSouthAfricanpolitics.Moreover,hadtheEFFjoinedtheDAingovernment,itwouldhavedonesoasaminoritypartnerputtingitintheawkwardpositionofappearingtorubber-stampDAmajoritydecisions.Thisgoesagainsttheparty'sidentityasapopularradicalmovement.RemainingintheoppositionallowstheEFFtomaintainitsidentityandretainthebargainingchipofbeingabletocollapseDA-runmunicipalgovernments.



610

TheEFFseemstowanttopursueakindof"guerrillagovernance"atmunicipallevelbyoccupyingland,supportingcommunityprotestsandprovidingservices,itself,inthewardsitgoverns.Inhispost-electionpressconference,MalemapromisedthatallthewardswonbytheEFFwouldhavebasicnecessitiessuchaswater,evenifitmeantthepartyhadtodigboreholes,itself,inthecommunitiesitrepresents.InGauteng,theprovincialleadershiphassaidthatitwillcontinue"landinvasions"onunoccupiedland,regardlessofhavingsupportedtheDAtotakepowerinJohannesburgandTshwane.TheEFFdisruptedthecommencementofHermanMashaba's inaugural speech as mayor,becauseitwantedthehousetoacknowledgethegrievancesofDAactivistswhohad,apparently,notbeenpaidbytheparty.EFFcouncillorsclaimedtobestandingfortheworkers'rightsbysupportingtheprotest(EyewitnessNews,13September2016).

Whethertheseactionswillattractandcon-solidatesupportfortheEFFremainstobeseen.TheattendanceofEFFMPsatpolicycommitteemeetingsinthenationalparliament,since2014,hasbeenrelativelypoor–34percent,in2015,comparedtotheANCandDA's73percent.Thesecommitteesarewheretherealworkofparliamentisdone–writinglawsandholdingtheexecutiveaccountable.On19September2016,thepartyannouncedthatJuliusMalemahadbeenrelievedofallhisparliamentarycommitteedutiestoenablehimtofocusondevelopingtheparty'sstructuresbeforethe2019generalelections.EFFspokesmanFanaMokoenasaid,"MrMalemawillmainlybedeployedonastringentprogrammetobuildtheEFFeverywhereinthecountry.Thesecretarygeneral,GodrichGardee,willnotbeinparliamentthatoften

either,becausehehastobemainlyoffice-boundinanorganisationalcapacity".(TimesLive,19September2016).MalemahassaidthatthepartywantstogrowitssupportinKwaZulu-NatalandtheEasternCapewherepartystructureswereestablishedquicklyandarerelativelyweak:"Weareconcerned,becauseifwedon'tgettheEasternCapeandKwaZulu-Natalright,wecanforgetaboutgrowingtheEFF'sinfluenceinthecountry"(MalemaquotedinTimesLive,6September2016).Thisfocusonbuildingasustainablepartystructuremaymitigatetheneedtoproveitselfinformalinstitutionalpolitics.

Youth Vote

SouthAfrica'spopulationandelectoratearebecomingyounger.Peopleaged15to29makeup28.19percentofthenationalpopulation;55percentofeligiblevotersaged20to29areregistered.Alookattheturnoutstatisticsofthe2011and2014elections,demonstratesthatyoungpeopleturnoutathigherratesinnationalelectionsthaninmunicipalones.

AgeAge Group (in years) % Turnout

Turnout18-19 69%

20-29 48%

30-39 49%

40-49

60-69

70-79

80+

61%

50-59 70%

70%

74%

52%

Source: Electoral Commission of South Africa Municipal Elections Report 2011:47

TABLE 4: 2011 turnout by age



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In2011,48percentofvotersaged20to29turnedouttovotecomparedto75per-centofwomenand69percentofmenin2014.Thisdiscrepancycanbeexplainedbythedifferenceinvotingrulesindifferentelections.Atmunicipalelections,peoplearerequiredtovoteinthewardsinwhichtheyareregistered.Ingeneralelections,peoplecanvoteatanyvotingstationinthecountry–onbothnationalandprovincialballotsiftheyvoteintheprovinceinwhichtheyareregistered,andonlyonthenationalballotiftheyvoteoutsidetheirprovince.Municipalelectionrules,thus,discriminateagainsttransitorypopulationsofmigrantworkersorstudentswhooftenresidefarfromwheretheyareregisteredandlackthetime,motivationorknowledgetoupdatetheirregistrationbeforeelections.Whatisclearisthatyoungpeopledoturnouttovotewhentheyareregisteredandareallowedtodosobytherules.

ThisbodeswellfortheEFFin2019.Aswasdiscussedintheprevioussection,theparty'smessageresonateswithyoungpeopleandmuchofitssupportisininformalsettlementswithlargemigrantpopulations.Itwillbeeasierforitsnaturalsupportbasetopar-ticipateinthe2019generalelections,whichshouldboosttheparty'sshareofthevote.ThechallengefortheEFFistoencouragethe45percentofeligiblevotersunder30,whoarenotonthevoters'roll,toregistertovote.Youngpeopledoparticipatepolitically,throughinformalmeanssuchasprotests.IftheEFFcanconvincethemtoparticipateinformalpoliticalstructures,suchaselections,itwillhavesucceededinsecuringitselfasustainableelectoralbase.

ConclusionSinceitburstontotheelectoralscene,theEFFhasprovedtobeanexcellentdisrupterofSouthAfricanpolitics.Usingitsuniquebrandofpoliticalspectacle,thepartyhassucceededinsettingthepoliticalagendaandsparkingpopularinterestinpoliticalinstitutions.UnliketheANC-breakawaypartythatprecededit,theCongressofthePeople(COPE),theEFFmanagedtosustaintheelectoralpromiseofitsdebutelections,in2014,inthechallengingterrainoflocalgovernmentelectionsin2016.OneofthereasonsitmanagedtodothiswasbyavoidingthekindofleadershipdisputesthatcausedCOPE'simplosion.ThechallengetheEFFfacesnowistoexpanditssupportbasewhilemanagingcompetinginterestsandprovingitselfasaseriouscontenderforgovernmentin2019.

AgeAge Group (in years) % Turnout

Turnout18-19 83%

20-29 72%

30-39 69%

40-49

60-69

70-79

80+

74%

50-59 80%

73%

80%

55%

Source: Electoral Commission of South Africa National and Provincial Report 2014:44

TABLE 5: 2014 turnout by age



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Documents

Economic Freedom Fighters' Debut in the Municipal Elections