‘Mandela is no more’: Malema takes aim at Zuma, MK Party and ANC

Durban – EFF president Julius Malema has criticised the ANC and MK Party during the party’s KwaZulu-Natal manifesto rally in Inanda, saying voters should look beyond established political leaders ahead of the 2026 local government elections.

Taking aim at former president Jacob Zuma and the ANC’s association with Nelson Mandela, Malema told supporters: “Mandela is no more. You can’t vote for President [Jacob] Zuma. He is too old. He is not the future.”

He added: “The future is you. The future is the EFF. The future is your children.”

LGE 2026 | EFF leader Julius Malema has taken a swipe at the MK Party, accusing it of being disorganised and clueless about what it is doing. Malema was speaking at the EFF’s manifesto launch at JL Dube Stadium in Inanda, north of Durban, today. pic.twitter.com/9N7sw6Fi45

— SABC News (@SABCNews) September 19, 2026

Malema also described the MK Party as “dead”, accusing it of internal instability.

“MKP is dead before it was born. They are killing each other. They are destroying each other. They are expelling each other,” he said.

The remarks came amid tensions surrounding the EFF’s Inanda rally, where the party had clashed with supporters of media personality Ngizwe Mchunu ahead of the event. SABC News reported that police were deployed after shots were fired during the confrontation.

Malema also described the ANC as a “sinking ship”, saying: “It is dying a natural death. Why would you join a sinking ship?”