Poor Julius. What is to be done after you’ve announced with great fanfare the launch of the revolution but nobody turned out on the day? That’s far more disastrous for Africa’s wannabe Che Guevara than an insurrection militarily suppressed.
Genuine revolutionary movements thrive on their initial defeats by a violent government. Such skirmishes burnish their struggle myths and enthuse the youthful cannon fodder required.
But the EFF’s #NationalShutdown of past Monday didn’t require mobilisation and containment. When the day came, all Malema’s threats – opponents would “meet their maker” and “no-one can stop the revolution” – fizzled with all the energy of a wet fart, leaving the EFF’s self-proclaimed commander-in-chief the embarrassed object of public ridicule.
The EFF had declared that there would be “no school, no university, no factory, no bus, no taxi, no trucks, no trains”.
WATCH: National shutdown: ‘Let history repeat itself, we are not scared,’ says Malema
Its new union allies, Saftu, had proclaimed that this would be the day that “the lid would be taken off the pot … a mass demonstration of the ire of the working classes”.
But instead of waves of red-shirted warriors enforcing a shutdown, it was generally pathetically small numbers of EFF storm troopers milled about ineffectually. Instead of hordes of class warriors venting their spleen, small groups of demonstrators strolled desultorily through town and then quietly dispersed.
Out of an abundance of caution, some factories and shops did close. But, on the whole, the ordinary public, for the first time and en masse, defied the EFF thugs.
Admittedly, this failure may make Malema more dangerous.
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Recognising that the EFF and hard left have taken a body blow, he may be tempted to act swiftly and dramatically to reclaim the limelight and credibility. Nevertheless, there are grounds for cautious optimism.
South Africans uniting across a broad spectrum prodded a weak and passive ANC government into action by making it clear that they were not going to buckle in the face of EFF threats.
Unlike the July 2021 riots, when the state for four days did not lift a finger to intervene, it was clear that this time around, rioters and looters would run up not only against organised community protection groups, but also the state’s security apparatus.
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Unlike the July 2021 riots, where not a single ringleader was charged and convicted, it was clear this time that there would be legal repercussions.
The Western Cape government was granted an urgent court order, interdicting the EFF and its supporters from harming or threatening people and businesses. In Gauteng, the DA secured a similar interdict against unlawful actions. And ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula warned that if there was violence, the ANC wanted EFF leaders to be held personally responsible for damage, and deaths.
While there nevertheless was some violence and more than 550 arrests, without these constraints placed on EFF behaviour, the situation would undoubtedly have been worse. Being proactive also helped.
Police seized about 24 300 tyres that they said had been “strategically placed for acts of criminality”.
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With the EFF on the back foot, this is the moment for the state to press its advantage. The outrageous degree of tolerance from the Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and law enforcement of the EFF and Malema’s racist abuse and threats of violence must stop.
The police take their cues from the SAHRC and the SAHRC, in turn, from the ANC. So any pushback to EFF fascism depends on the ANC leadership stiffening its collective spine.
The people have spoken. Now for President Cyril Ramaphosa to listen.