South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has launched a scathing attack on the Democratic Alliance (DA), accusing the party of providing a “political sanctuary” for white supremacists.
The EFF’s criticism comes in the wake of significant political developments following the recent South African elections.
The EFF referenced a parliamentary debate where DA Leader Alf Lees allegedly stated he “would blacken his face,” using this as evidence to claim that “white supremacists views have found expression at the highest level of leadership and policy making” within the DA.
This accusation gains additional context given recent electoral results and political maneuvering in which the DA, traditionally known as the white-led main opposition party, formally signed a governing agreement with the African National Congress (ANC).
This political realignment has resulted in ANC leader Cyril Ramaphosa securing a second term as president, supported by lawmakers from opposition parties, including the DA. The EFF’s statement, therefore, comes at a time of significant shifts in South Africa’s political landscape.
In the latest South African elections, the DA secured 21.81 percent of the vote, while the EFF garnered 14.58, for which the ANC’s Ramophosa needed alliance with former to win a second term.
The EFF’s allegations against the DA and the recent political agreements highlight the complex racial and political dynamics at play in South African politics.
As the country continues to grapple with its apartheid legacy, such accusations and political realignments are likely to fuel ongoing debates about representation, power, and racial equality in the nation’s democratic system.