Although the EFF and the DA are not entering any coalitions, it seems that EFF leader Julius Malema has had a little influence on DA leader Mmusi Maimane.

During negotiations with the EFF to possibly form coalitions, there was talk regarding street names and other remnants of apartheid – including Die Stem.

After the talks, Mmusi was asked if he did indeed tell the EFF that asking black people to sing Die Stem was like asking Jews to sing songs expressing support for Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. Maimane replied:

As a child, I had to go through Die Stem, so I had to think carefully about that.

[I] have problems singing Die Stem, but changes to the National Anthem are subject to constitutional processes.

The issue for me is that we can build a common consensus and agree about an issue like Afrikaans because I’m always at the forefront of trying to build a negotiated consensus for South Africans.

After the EFF established they would not be forming coalition parties with the DA, but would vote alongside them in the Tshwane, Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, and Nelson Mandela Bay metros instead, the DA had to enter into coalitions with the FF Plus, Cope, UDM, and ACDP.

The reason the EFF didn’t enter into coalitions with parties is because they demanded that parties should agree with them about issues like the expropriation of land, the nationalisation of mines, and free education.

Those are some radical ideologies that might “work” for the people in theory, but right now, not in practice. But it’s good they are at least there to provide a certain amount of influence, like Mmusi’s thoughts on Die Stem.

[source: news24]