Johannesburg - Leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Julius Malema has decried the country's political and economic morass under the leadership of President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Malema said the country had regressed to the point that it was becoming a failed state, and that only the EFF could reverse this tide as the ANC had proven that it could not govern the country.
Malema was speaking during his closing address at the 3rd KwaZulu-Natal People's Assembly, which chose a new set of leaders ahead of the 2024 general elections.
Malema said that under Ramaphosa, the country had become a headless chicken.
"The country is functioning without a head. Do you know what a headless chicken is and what it does? That is where we are right now. This country has become a headless chicken. It has got no direction unless the EFF wakes up in KZN and we take KZN and we take the whole of South Africa, and redirect the country to a proper destination," he said.
Malema's address comes just a day after former ANC leaders Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma attacked Ramaphosa and the ANC.
Mbeki slammed members of the ANC for failing to address the Phala Phala matter, which has placed Ramaphosa under severe pressure, while Zuma said Ramaphosa had committed treason after millions in foreign currency was (allegedly) found stashed in sofas and mattresses at his farm in Phala Phala, and then stolen.
Malema also referred to the collapse of key state institutions, including SAA and Eskom, saying only the EFF could address these problems.
"If we don't do that, South Africa will not be a country that is worth living in. Your country is going to become another failed state. You are going to leave and go to other countries to look for greener pastures. South Africa must prosper, and it must prosper without the ANC. This country must go forward under the leadership of the EFF," he said.
Malema also attacked Ramaphosa on the issue of the Zulu Royal family, saying Ramaphosa should hand over the certificate to Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini and not concern himself with the issues of that family.
He accused Ramaphosa not loving black people, including the Zulu monarch.
"He must not pretend that he loves black people. I am sure he even has a hand in the disunity of that family. It is possible that he is the one dividing that family, because he is good in dividing black people. Ramaphosa must just hand over the certificate and, after doing that, he must sit down," he said.
The Star