EFF’s Nkululeko Dunga enters Gauteng government in major power shift

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi on Wednesday evening confirmed that the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) will formally join the provincial executive council in a move that reshapes the balance of power in South Africa’s economic hub and signals a decisive attempt to stabilise a fragile coalition government.

Announcing the decision during a media briefing, Lesufi said the reconfiguration followed mounting political strain within the provincial legislature and required intervention at the highest level of the ANC.

“It is within this context that the national leadership of the ANC gave us a go-ahead to engage other political parties to strengthen the executive council,” Lesufi said.

Cohesion challenges

The move comes after weeks of behind-the-scenes negotiations, as the Gauteng government of provincial unity – comprising the ANC, IFP, Patriotic Alliance and Rise Mzansi – struggled to maintain cohesion following the 2024 elections.

Lesufi acknowledged that instability had become a defining concern.

“With a legislature of 80 members, instability was a worrying factor,” he said, referencing both opposition pressure and internal fractures.

Motion of no confidence hurdle

He pointed to a recent Democratic Alliance motion of no confidence, as well as disagreements within the coalition that delayed the adoption of a key budget.

“Last week, the adoption of the Adjustment Budget was delayed by a week due to disagreements with political parties within the legislature,” Lesufi said.

Although the motion of no confidence was defeated, Lesufi suggested it exposed deeper vulnerabilities in the governing arrangement.

“Even though this motion was overwhelmingly rejected… the possible instability was going to be the hallmark of this administration,” he said.

EFF to the rescue

Against this backdrop, Lesufi said the provincial government engaged multiple parties – including the DA, EFF and uMkhonto weSizwe – before deciding to bring the EFF into the executive.

“We engaged with several political parties… and after broad consultations, we decided to make changes that add the Economic Freedom Fighters into the Executive Council,” he said.

Dunga to control the purse

The EFF will take control of the influential finance portfolio, with Nkululeko Dunga appointed as MEC for Finance – placing the party at the centre of fiscal decision-making in the province.

The inclusion of the EFF marks a significant ideological shift within the executive and is expected to have implications for policy direction, particularly on spending and economic priorities.

The reconstituted executive now brings together five parties – the ANC, IFP, Patriotic Alliance, Rise Mzansi and the EFF – broadening the coalition but also introducing new political dynamics into an already complex governance structure.

Stability ‘is key’

Lesufi framed the decision as necessary to ensure stability and continuity in government operations at a time when Gauteng faces mounting service delivery pressures, including water supply challenges, crime and housing backlogs.

The announcement is also likely to reverberate beyond the province as political parties begin positioning themselves ahead of the ANC’s 2027 national conference, where alliances formed at the provincial level often shape national outcomes.

For now, the EFF’s entry into the Gauteng executive marks a clear recalibration of power – one driven less by electoral mandate than by the urgent need to govern in a fractured political landscape.