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Thursday, 23 July 2026
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Thursday, 23 July 2026
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Namibian press · Organization

Economic Freedom Fighters

Also known as: EFF · Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)

Economic Freedom Fighters — South African opposition party, leader Julius Malema sentenced to five years prison in 2026.

2018-02-232026-07-23
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What’s been said

Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.

  1. April 2026

  2. The Namibian

    Economic Freedom Fighters held night vigil on Tuesday ahead of court proceedings

    Source

    “Party members gathered outside the court yesterday, singing and chanting the controversial 'kill the boer, kill the farmer' slogan after marching from Jan Smuts Stadium, where they held a night vigil on Tuesday ahead of the court proceedings.”

    They can imprison me, but they will never imprison my ideas – Malema

  3. New Era

    Economic Freedom Fighters adopted theatrical tactics within parliament

    Source

    “A useful comparative case is South Africa, where the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have adopted theatrical tactics within parliament.”

    Opinion – Parliament and politics of disorder

  4. New Era

    Economic Freedom Fighters said the case is an attempt to silence its outspoken leader

    Source

    “The EFF, a small but vocal party, said the case is an attempt to silence its outspoken leader, who is known for fiery speeches.”

    Malema sentenced to five years on gun charges

  5. The Namibian

    Julius Malema is leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters

    Source

    “Malema's lawyer said he would be appealing against the decision to prevent the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters and member of parliament from being sent to prison.”

    South African opposition figure Malema sentenced to five years in prison

  6. New Era

    Economic Freedom Fighters said the case is an attempt to silence its outspoken leader

    Source

    “The EFF, a small but vocal party, said the case is an attempt to silence its outspoken leader, who is known for fiery speeches.”

    Hundreds rally ahead of Malema sentencing
  7. March 2026

  8. The Namibian

    Economic Freedom Fighters mounted a court challenge on the VAT increase

    Source

    “The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), which also mounted a court challenge on the VAT increase, said the ruling affirmed their long-held view that only through a resolution of parliament can the VAT rate be adjusted.”

    Western Cape High Court strikes down finance minister's unconstitutional tax powers
  9. February 2026

  10. The Namibian

    The Economic Freedom Fighters has promised to stop supporting the ANC in Ekurhuleni and in the Gauteng legislature

    Source

    “The EFF has since promised to stop supporting the ANC in Ekurhuleni and in the Gauteng legislature.”

    The ANC won’t, and can’t, arrest its decline in Gauteng
  11. January 2026

  12. The Namibian

    The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) welcomed the regulatory shift, describing it as a decisive political victory

    Source

    “The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), which has long campaigned for lower data prices, welcomed the regulatory shift, describing it as a decisive political victory achieved through sustained pressure and consistent engagement.”

    Icasa forces MTN, Vodacom to roll over unused data as EFF claims consumer victory
  13. October 2025

  14. The Namibian

    Economic Freedom Fighters have condemned Operation Dudula

    Source

    “Several major political parties, including the Economic Freedom Fighters and the Democratic Alliance, have also condemned Operation Dudula.”

    ‘We have to prioritise South Africans': Anti-migrant movement blocks foreigners from healthcare
  15. July 2025

  16. The Namibian

    Economic Freedom Fighters rejected the National Dialogue

    Source

    “One of the the parties that has rejected the National Dialogue is the EFF.”

    National Dialogue will be meaningless without honest leaders, warns Mbeki
World & Region

Ramaphosa seeks court halt to impeachment inquiry

The News

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has asked the High Court for an urgent interdict to stop impeachment proceedings against him over the Phala Phala allegations, arguing the inquiry would cause him irreparable harm and humiliation. The court heard two days of arguments in Cape Town, with the impeachment stemming from a Section 89 panel report finding he had a case to answer over the theft of $580,000 in cash from his game farm.

17 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 17 July

  1. Ramaphosa seeks court halt to impeachment inquiry

    South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has asked the High Court for an urgent interdict to stop impeachment proceedings against him over the Phala Phala allegations, arguing the inquiry would cause him irreparable harm and humiliation. The court heard two days of arguments in Cape Town, with the impeachment stemming from a Section 89 panel report finding he had a case to answer over the theft of $580,000 in cash from his game farm.

    17 July 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. South African President Ramaphosa seeks to halt impeachment inquiry

    Cyril Ramaphosa is applying to the High Court for an interdict to stop impeachment proceedings against him over the Phala Phala allegations, arguing that a public inquiry would cause irreparable harm to his reputation. The impeachment stems from a Section 89 independent panel's finding that Ramaphosa had a case to answer regarding the theft of $580,000 in cash hidden at his game farm.

    17 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 16 July

  1. Court hears opposition to Ramaphosa's bid to halt impeachment

    The Western Cape High Court heard arguments from opposition parties who urged the court to reject President Ramaphosa's urgent interdict to prevent Parliament's impeachment committee from starting proceedings against him over the Phala Phala saga. The ATM, EFF, MK, and UAT parties argued that granting the interdict would encroach on Parliament's authority.

    16 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 9 July

  1. Malema denies conspiracy to remove intelligence inspector-general

    EFF leader Julius Malema has denied allegations that he conspired with suspended crime intelligence deputy head Feroz Khan and businessman Muhammad Sayed to remove former intelligence inspector-general Setlhomamaru Dintwe, responding via affidavit to the Madlanga Commission about WhatsApp exchanges in which his name was mentioned.

    9 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 5 July

  1. South African xenophobia contradicts region's solidarity history

    An opinion piece critiques recent xenophobic protests in South Africa as a betrayal of the country's historical ties to neighbouring migrants and its anti-apartheid solidarity legacy, invoking Hugh Masekela's song about migrant labour that built South African wealth.

    5 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Saturday 20 June

  1. Obituary: Abdullah Ibrahim, South African jazz icon, dies at 91

    A South African jazz lover and apartheid-era activist reflects on the death of Professor Abdullah Ibrahim (formerly Dollar Brand), who rose from Cape Town's District Six to become a founding member of the Jazz Epistles and a cultural symbol of resistance whose music sustained liberation movements.

    20 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 2 June

  1. Rise Mzansi MP elected to chair Ramaphosa impeachment committee

    Makashule Gana, a Rise Mzansi MP, has been elected chairperson of Parliament's Section 89 impeachment committee, which will decide President Cyril Ramaphosa's future. The committee includes prominent MPs from multiple parties, including EFF leader Julius Malema, DA representatives, MK leader John Hlophe, BOSA leader Mmusi Maimane, and ActionSA's Lerato Ngobeni.

    2 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 21 May

  1. South Africa petrol prices heading for all-time highs in June

    Petrol prices in South Africa are set to increase sharply in June as the government phases out its fuel tax relief, with 95 unleaded expected to reach all-time highs of R27.42 at the coast. Diesel prices are forecast to decrease slightly, but relief is constrained by the government's planned reduction of the fuel tax reprieve from 3 June.

    21 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 12 May

  1. South African president seeks legal review of impeachment report

    President Cyril Ramaphosa announced he will pursue a judicial review of a Section 89 independent panel report that could lead to his impeachment over the Phala Phala saga. The Constitutional Court cleared the path for a public impeachment hearing into Ramaphosa's conduct on 8 May.

    12 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 11 May

  1. Ramaphosa likely to survive impeachment despite Constitutional Court ruling

    A Constitutional Court ruling has forced Parliament to consider impeachment proceedings against President Cyril Ramaphosa over allegations concerning US dollars stolen from his home. However, analysis suggests it is unlikely he will be removed from office, as a two-thirds majority of MPs would be required and the ANC's interests appear to align with his remaining in power.

    11 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Saturday 9 May

  1. Constitutional Court rules parliament violated constitution blocking Ramaphosa impeachment

    South Africa's Constitutional Court ruled that parliament violated the constitution by blocking moves to impeach president Cyril Ramaphosa in 2022, following a legal challenge by Julius Malema's Economic Freedom Fighters and others. The ruling could result in fresh impeachment proceedings; Ramaphosa's office says he respects the judgement and reaffirms his commitment to the constitution and rule of law.

    9 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 8 May

  1. South Africa's Ramaphosa respects court ruling on Phala Phala matter

    South Africa's Presidency says President Cyril Ramaphosa respects the Constitutional Court's judgment declaring Parliament's decision to reject the Section 89 Independent Panel Report into the Phala Phala scandal unconstitutional, reaffirming his commitment to the Constitution and the rule of law.

    8 May 2026 · Informanté →

Tuesday 28 April

  1. Pan-African Parliament moves toward regional rotation in leadership

    The Pan-African Parliament in South Africa this week is electing a new bureau after resolving a 15-year argument about leadership representation. In May 2017, the PAP passed a resolution to introduce regional rotation of the presidency, addressing a pattern in which only east, west, and central African leaders held the top position during the institution's first 18 years.

    28 April 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. NFP expels KZN legislator who blocked Zuma's party takeover

    The National Freedom Party has expelled its sole representative in the KZN legislature, Mbali Shinga, after she defied party leadership to vote against a motion of no confidence in Premier Thami Ntuli in December, preventing the MK party from seizing control of the province.

    28 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 23 April

  1. ANC demands members choose between party, SACP

    The ANC has given its members who also belong to the SACP a 10-day deadline to declare which party they will campaign for in local elections, after the SACP announced it would contest independently. The move highlights tensions within the historically intertwined alliance and poses practical complications for senior figures like SACP chairperson Blade Nzimande and ANC Chair Gwede Mantashe, both of whom hold ministerial positions.

    23 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Saturday 18 April

  1. South African EFF leader Malema sentenced to five years imprisonment

    Julius Malema, leader of South Africa's Economic Freedom Fighters party, has been sentenced to five years in prison by the KuGombo Regional Court for unlawfully discharging a firearm at a 2018 public gathering in Mdantsane Stadium, with additional concurrent sentences on related charges. The prosecution argued the act was premeditated and posed serious danger to the 20,000 people present, while the defence contended the state misread evidence and that Malema should be treated equally under the law rather than receiving harsher punishment due to his public status.

    18 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 17 April

  1. Opinion: Is parliamentary disorder a political strategy?

    An opinion piece examines recent disruptions in Namibia's Parliament—including table-banging and xenophobic remarks—asking whether disorder functions as a deliberate political instrument to advance narrow interests rather than genuine democratic expression. The author draws on African political theory to suggest that weak institutionalization may enable actors to exploit confusion strategically.

    17 April 2026 · New Era →

  2. NEFF deputy disputes Julius Malema's South Africa sentencing

    Namibian Economic Freedom Fighters deputy president Kalimbo Iipumbu has described the sentencing of EFF leader Julius Malema in South Africa as politically driven and designed to intimidate. Malema was sentenced to five years imprisonment for unlawful firearm possession in connection with a 2018 incident, though he has been granted leave to appeal the sentence.

    17 April 2026 · New Era →

  3. South African court sentences Malema to five years for firearm offence

    Julius Malema, leader of South Africa's Economic Freedom Fighters party, was sentenced to five years in jail for firing an assault rifle at a 2018 rally. The magistrate ruled the shooting was a deliberate violation of firearm laws, not an impulsive celebration as his defence claimed, and Malema's team has signalled an intention to appeal.

    17 April 2026 · New Era →

Thursday 16 April

  1. South African opposition leader Malema sentenced to five years prison

    Julius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters and member of parliament, has been sentenced to at least five years in prison after being found guilty of illegal gun possession and firing it in public during his party's 2018 anniversary celebrations. His lawyer said he would appeal the decision, which would disqualify him from parliament once all appeals are exhausted.

    16 April 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. South African opposition leader faces sentencing for firearm offense

    Julius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters party, is set to be sentenced today in South Africa for firing an assault rifle at a rally in 2018, with the state seeking the maximum 15-year jail term. Hundreds of supporters gathered ahead of his sentencing in East London, as the case—brought by far-right group AfriForum—continues amid broader controversy over Malema's use of anti-apartheid slogans.

    16 April 2026 · New Era →

Monday 23 March

  1. South Africa: ANC signals mayoral strategy for Johannesburg election

    President Ramaphosa's comments suggesting retention of Johannesburg's current mayor signal possible ANC plans to impose a national candidate on the region, while the party's recent march focused on defending national sovereignty appears designed to shift campaign messaging away from local service delivery failures to broader anti-Trump and liberation movement themes.

    23 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 8 March

  1. South African court strikes down minister's VAT-setting powers

    The Western Cape High Court declared that South Africa's VAT Act unconstitutionally delegates tax-setting authority to the finance minister, a power that must rest with parliament. Judge Matthew Francis ruled that parliament has 24 months to remedy the constitutional defect, with the current VAT rate to remain in effect unless parliament itself amends the law.

    8 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 5 March

  1. Mosiuoa Lekota's legacy beyond apartheid struggle honored

    The Namibian's analysis of Mosiuoa Lekota, who died on Wednesday, argues that his role in forming the Congress of the People in 2008 was equally vital to his anti-apartheid activism. By breaking the ANC's political dominance, Cope's 1.3 million votes prevented Zuma's government from securing a two-thirds majority, shifted South African politics from racial to policy-based competition, and inspired the formation of other parties including the EFF and ActionSA, fundamentally changing the country's democratic trajectory.

    5 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 23 February

  1. Zille and Mashaba lead Johannesburg mayoral race as ANC falters

    The race for Johannesburg's mayor is now dominated by DA candidate Helen Zille and ActionSA president Herman Mashaba, with the ANC yet to name a candidate and facing declining support in the city. Infrastructure failures and declining voter turnout in traditional ANC strongholds like Soweto have reshaped the political landscape ahead of local elections expected in late November 2026.

    23 February 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. ANC facing structural decline in Gauteng ahead of elections

    The ANC in Gauteng is weakened by service delivery failures, corruption, and entrenched factionalism among regional leaders, leaving the party unable to arrest its decline before local elections. With a minority government vulnerable to no-confidence votes, the party may resort to horse-trading with opposition parties to pass budgets, perpetuating extraction and undermining governance.

    23 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 5 February

  1. Steenhuisen's exit highlights DA's tough leadership challenge

    John Steenhuisen's decision to step down as Democratic Alliance leader follows revelations about his personal credit card debt and the controversial removal of environment minister Dion George. The incoming leader must navigate questions about race, the party's electoral strategy, and its relationship with the ANC government—while protecting the DA's core claim to integrity that distinguishes it from other parties.

    5 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 28 January

  1. South Africa's Icasa mandates data rollover by MTN and Vodacom

    South Africa's communications regulator Icasa has ordered mobile operators to automatically roll over unused prepaid data, voice, and SMS bundles to the next month at no extra cost, while allowing subscribers to transfer unused data to others on the same network. The EFF has claimed the regulatory change as a consumer victory achieved through political pressure.

    28 January 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 27 January

  1. Crime Intelligence implicated in 2017 ANC politician's murder

    An undercover Crime Intelligence officer testified at the Madlanga Commission that senior officials in the agency were involved in the 2017 murder of former ANC Youth League secretary-general Sindiso Magaqa, and alleged that suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu attempted to persuade him to lie about the case.

    27 January 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 20 January

  1. MK Party prepares new motion against KZN Premier Ntuli

    The MK Party, which won 37 of 80 seats in the 2024 KwaZulu-Natal elections, says it is preparing another motion of no confidence against Premier Thami Ntuli, claiming it can improve service delivery on unemployment, poverty, crime, and water challenges if it takes control of the province.

    20 January 2026 · The Namibian →

Economic Freedom Fighters — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute