| ideology = {{Nowrap|[[Communism]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://mg.co.za/article/2013-09-17-eff-to-launch-workshops-teaching-communism/ | title=EFF to launch communism workshops | date=17 September 2013 | access-date=14 August 2022 | archive-date=14 August 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814144248/https://mg.co.za/article/2013-09-17-eff-to-launch-workshops-teaching-communism/ | url-status=live }}</ref><br>[[Marxism–Leninism]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/08/the-coded-clothes-of-south-africas-economic-freedom-fighters/375366/|title=The Coded Clothes of South Africa's Economic Freedom Fighters|author=Goldhammer, Zack|work=[[The Atlantic]]|date=1 August 2014|accessdate=14 November 2021|archive-date=14 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211114061910/https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/08/the-coded-clothes-of-south-africas-economic-freedom-fighters/375366/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/safrica-election-result-idAFL8N2RV1BA|title=S.Africa's ANC gets 46% of vote in municipal elections -final count|date=4 November 2021|publisher=Reuters|access-date=11 November 2021|archive-date=11 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111144721/https://www.reuters.com/article/safrica-election-result-idAFL8N2RV1BA|url-status=live}}</ref><br />[[Frantz Fanon|Fanonism]]<ref name="ML"/><br />[[Sankarism]]<ref name=SANKIE/><br />[[Anti-capitalism]]<ref name="aji">{{cite web|url=http://stream.aljazeera.com/story/201310142026-0023110|title=Economic Freedom Fighters Party reignites debate (in English)|publisher=[[Al Jazeera]]|date=14 October 2013|access-date=1 November 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102192705/http://stream.aljazeera.com/story/201310142026-0023110|archive-date=2 November 2013}}</ref><ref name="n24i">{{cite web|url=http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/Politics/Hundreds-gather-for-EFF-launch-20131013|title=Hundreds gather for EFF launch (in English)|publisher=[[News24 (website)|News24]]|date=13 October 2013|access-date=1 November 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104124450/http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/Politics/Hundreds-gather-for-EFF-launch-20131013|archive-date=4 November 2013}}</ref><br />[[Anti-imperialism]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.africanews.com/2021/09/27/s-africa-eff-s-malema-wants-incapable-anc-out-of-local-government//|title=S.Africa: EFF's Malema wants 'incapable' ANC out of local government|date=27 September 2021|accessdate=14 November 2021|work=[[Africanews]]|archive-date=14 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211114063542/https://www.africanews.com/2021/09/27/s-africa-eff-s-malema-wants-incapable-anc-out-of-local-government//|url-status=live}}</ref><br />[[Left-wing populism]]<ref>{{cite news|work=[[The Times of India]]|title=ANC holds onto power in South Africa as other parties increase vote share|date=11 May 2018|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/anc-holds-onto-power-in-south-africa-as-other-parties-increase-vote-share/articleshow/69278436.cms|access-date=11 May 2019|archive-date=2 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202160451/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/anc-holds-onto-power-in-south-africa-as-other-parties-increase-vote-share/articleshow/69278436.cms|url-status=live}}</ref><br />[[Pan-Africanism]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kwinika |first1=Savious |title=South Africa: Pan-African EFF Makes Most of Rival Parties' Squabbles |url=https://allafrica.com/stories/201903180741.html |access-date=16 April 2020 |work=allAfrica |date=18 March 2019 |language=en |archive-date=1 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801122041/https://allafrica.com/stories/201903180741.html |url-status=live }}</ref><br />[[Black nationalism|Black ultranationalism]]<ref>{{cite journal|title=Black Neofascism? The Economic Freedom Fighters in South Africa|date=November 2019|last=Satgar|first=Vishwas|journal=Canadian Review of Sociology/Revue Canadienne de Sociologie|volume=56|issue=4|pages=580–605|doi=10.1111/cars.12265|pmid=31692263|s2cid=207894048}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://opinion.premiumtimesng.com/2017/12/30/south-africa-judicial-activism-on-zuma-has-limits-by-rafiq-raji/|title=South Africa: Judicial Activism On Zuma Has Limits|date=30 December 2017|publisher=Premium Times|access-date=11 November 2021|archive-date=11 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111144726/https://opinion.premiumtimesng.com/2017/12/30/south-africa-judicial-activism-on-zuma-has-limits-by-rafiq-raji/|url-status=live}}</ref><br>[[Russophilia]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chanson |first=Romain |date=21 March 2022 |title=War in Ukraine: Malema’s party in South Africa acts as Russia’s mouthpiece |url=https://www.theafricareport.com/186080/war-in-ukraine-malemas-party-in-south-africa-acts-as-russias-mouthpiece/amp/ |access-date=11 April 2023 |website=[[The Africa Report]]}}</ref><br>Black [[Neo-fascism]]<ref>{{cite journal|title=Black Neofascism? The Economic Freedom Fighters in South Africa|date=November 2019|last=Satgar|first=Vishwas|journal=Canadian Review of Sociology/Revue Canadienne de Sociologie|volume=56|issue=4|pages=580–605|doi=10.1111/cars.12265|pmid=31692263|s2cid=207894048}}</ref><br>[[Anti-Zionism]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-707221 | title=Israel is an 'evil state that must be destroyed' - South Africa's EFF | access-date=14 August 2022 | archive-date=14 August 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814144247/https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-707221 | url-status=live }}</ref><br>[[Racism in South Africa#Racism against white people|Anti-whiteWhite racism]]<ref name="campbell187">{{cite book|last=Campbell|first=John|year=2016|title=Morning in South Africa|publisher=Indiana University Press|page=187|quotation=Often explicitly antiwhite in its rhetoric, it [the EFF] would expropriate without compensation white-owned property...}}</ref><ref name="lewis62">{{cite book|last=Lewis|first=Megan|year=2016|title=Performing Whitely in the Postcolony: Afrikaners in South African Theatrical and Public Life|publisher=University of Iowa Press|page=62|quotation=Several events added fuel to the fire: the increasing popularity of Julius Malema's antiwhite political party, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)...}}</ref><br />Anti-[[Indian South Africans|Anti-Indian racism]]<ref name=INDIE/>}}

| position= [[Left-wing politics|Left-wing]]<ref name="pmldaily">{{Cite news|url=https://www.pmldaily.com/news/2020/02/south-african-court-orders-for-arrest-of-firebrand-politician-julius-malema.html|title=South African court orders for arrest of firebrand politician Julius Malema|date=25 February 2020|author=George Okello|quote=Leader of South Africa’s '''left-wing''' Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Julius Malema wanted arrested|work=PML Daily|access-date=13 June 2020|language=en|archive-date=13 June 2020|archive-url=httpsFiscal://web.archive.org/web/20200613173658/https://www.pmldaily.com/news/2020/02/south-african-court-orders-for-arrest-of-firebrand-politician-julius-malema.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="uk.reuters">{{Cite news|url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-safrica-politics/south-africas-left-wing-eff-leads-latest-anti-government-protest-idUKKCN0SL13020151027|title=South Africa's left-wing EFF leads latest anti-government protest|date=27 October 2015|author=Alison Williams|quote=South Africa’s '''left-wing''' Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) led a march on Tuesday calling for a fairer distribution of the country’s wealth, the latest sign of anti-government dissent following a wave of student protests last week.|work=Reuters|access-date=13 June 2020|language=en|archive-date=13 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613173659/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-safrica-politics/south-africas-left-wing-eff-leads-latest-anti-government-protest-idUKKCN0SL13020151027|url-status=live}}</ref> to [[Far-left politics|farFar-left]]<ref name="af.reuters">{{Cite news|url=https://af.reuters.com/article/southAfricaNews/idAFL5N1V80N0|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818152954/https://af.reuters.com/article/southAfricaNews/idAFL5N1V80N0|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 August 2018|title=South Africa's opposition EFF introduces bill to nationalise...|date=17 August 2018|work=Reuters|access-date=23 March 2019|language=en}}</ref><ref name="Al Jazeera">[http://stream.aljazeera.com/story/201408222154-0024098 South African lawmakers disrupt parliament and demand Zuma #PayBackTheMoney] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508211033/http://stream.aljazeera.com/story/201408222154-0024098 |date=8 May 2019 }}. ''AlJazeera''. Published 22 August 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2018.</ref><ref name="radionz">[https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/world/266026/south-african-parliament-descends-into-chaos South African parliament descends into chaos] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180409044513/https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/world/266026/south-african-parliament-descends-into-chaos |date=9 April 2018 }}. ''Radio New Zealand''. Published 13 February 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2018.</ref><br>'''Social:''' [[Far-right politics|Far-right]]<ref>{{cite web |date=4 April 2017 |title=The EFF's wrecking ball politics is fascist rather than left - The Mail & Guardian |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2017-04-04-the-effs-wrecking-ball-politics-is-fascist-rather-than-left/ |access-date=20 November 2020 |archive-date=14 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114074002/https://mg.co.za/article/2017-04-04-the-effs-wrecking-ball-politics-is-fascist-rather-than-left/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Haffajee |first=Ferial |date=2020-09-13 |title=ANALYSIS: From schoolyard bullies to emerging fascists: The EFF's unstoppable politics of violence |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-09-13-from-schoolyard-bullies-to-emerging-fascists-the-effs-unstoppable-politics-of-violence/ |access-date=2022-02-09 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en |archive-date=10 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201110051941/https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-09-13-from-schoolyard-bullies-to-emerging-fascists-the-effs-unstoppable-politics-of-violence/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Democracy, fascism and the future of the EFF |url=http://www.news.uct.ac.za/article/-2021-01-29-democracy-fascism-and-the-future-of-the-eff |access-date=2022-02-09 |website=www.news.uct.ac.za |language=en |archive-date=20 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120171428/https://www.news.uct.ac.za/article/-2021-01-29-democracy-fascism-and-the-future-of-the-eff |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Satgar |first1=Vishwas |year=2019 |title=Black Neofascism? The Economic Freedom Fighters in South Africa |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/337055733 |journal=Canadian Review of Sociology/Revue Canadienne de Sociologie |volume=56 |issue=4 |pages=580–605 |doi=10.1111/cars.12265 |pmid=31692263 |via=[[ResearchGate]] |s2cid=207894048}}</ref>| international =

The '''Economic Freedom Fighters''' ('''EFF''') is a South African [[Left-wing politics|left-wing]]<ref name="pmldaily"/><ref name="uk.reuters"/> to [[Far-left politics|far-left]],<ref name="af.reuters"/><ref name="Al Jazeera"/><ref name="radionz"/> [[Pan-Africanism|pan-Africanist]] and [[Marxism–Leninism|Marxist–Leninist]] [[political party]] with [[Far-right politics|far-right]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Haffajee |first=Ferial |date=2020-09-13 |title=ANALYSIS: From schoolyard bullies to emerging fascists: The EFF's unstoppable politics of violence |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-09-13-from-schoolyard-bullies-to-emerging-fascists-the-effs-unstoppable-politics-of-violence/ |access-date=2022-02-09 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en |archive-date=10 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201110051941/https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-09-13-from-schoolyard-bullies-to-emerging-fascists-the-effs-unstoppable-politics-of-violence/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Democracy, fascism and the future of the EFF |url=http://www.news.uct.ac.za/article/-2021-01-29-democracy-fascism-and-the-future-of-the-eff |access-date=2022-02-09 |website=www.news.uct.ac.za |language=en |archive-date=20 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120171428/https://www.news.uct.ac.za/article/-2021-01-29-democracy-fascism-and-the-future-of-the-eff |url-status=live }}</ref> social policies. It was founded by expelled former [[African National Congress Youth League]] (ANCYL) President [[Julius Malema]], and his allies, in 2013.<ref name="Dispatch">{{cite news|title=Malema launches his Economic Freedom Fighters|author=Meggan Saville|url=http://www.dispatch.co.za/malema-launches-his-economic-freedom-fighters/|newspaper=Dispatch Online|date=12 July 2013|access-date=16 July 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130725200305/http://www.dispatch.co.za/malema-launches-his-economic-freedom-fighters/|archive-date=25 July 2013}}</ref> Malema is President of the EFF, heading the Central Command Team which serves as the central structure of the party.<ref name="BD">{{cite news|title=Malema takes command of Economic Freedom Fighters|author=Setumo Stone|url=http://www.bdlive.co.za/national/politics/2013/07/11/malema-takes-command-of-economic-freedom-fighters|newspaper=[[Business Day (South Africa)|Business Day]]|date=11 July 2013|access-date=16 July 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130714113641/http://www.bdlive.co.za/national/politics/2013/07/11/malema-takes-command-of-economic-freedom-fighters|archive-date=14 July 2013}}</ref> It is currently the third-largest party in both houses of the [[Parliament of South Africa|South African Parliament]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cohen |first1=Mike |title=Why Land Seizure Is Back in the News in South Africa |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/why-land-seizure-is-back-in-the-news-in-south-africa/2020/02/25/85d2f612-579c-11ea-8efd-0f904bdd8057_story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226095318/https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/why-land-seizure-is-back-in-the-news-in-south-africa/2020/02/25/85d2f612-579c-11ea-8efd-0f904bdd8057_story.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 February 2020 |access-date=25 April 2020 |work=Bloomberg via Washington Post |date=26 February 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

The EFF was criticised by the [[South African Council of Churches]], the [[Ahmed Kathrada Foundation]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/no-one-is-going-to-intimidate-us-eff-hits-back-at-clergy-and-ahmed-kathrada-foundation-20181122|title='No one is going to intimidate us' – EFF hits back at clergy and Ahmed Kathrada Foundation|work=News24|access-date=23 November 2018|language=en|archive-date=23 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123000149/https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/no-one-is-going-to-intimidate-us-eff-hits-back-at-clergy-and-ahmed-kathrada-foundation-20181122|url-status=live}}</ref> and the ANC<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/eff-bullies-trying-to-hide-their-own-shenanigans-anc-chief-whip-mthembu-20181123|title='EFF bullies' trying to 'hide their own shenanigans' – ANC chief whip Mthembu|work=News24|access-date=23 November 2018|language=en|archive-date=23 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123081437/https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/eff-bullies-trying-to-hide-their-own-shenanigans-anc-chief-whip-mthembu-20181123|url-status=live}}</ref> for comparing Public Enterprises Minister [[Pravin Gordhan]] to a "dog" whilst protesting against the [[The Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture|Zondo Commission]] inquiry into government corruption. The EFF also accused the anti-corruption investigators of being members of an "[[Indian South Africans|Indian]] [[cabal]]" commenting on the presence of Indian South African'sAfricans making up the investigative team.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://city-press.news24.com/Voices/indian-cabal-narrative-is-to-protect-the-looting-project-20181119|title='Indian cabal' narrative is to protect the looting project|work=CityPress|access-date=23 November 2018|language=en|archive-date=22 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122132149/https://city-press.news24.com/Voices/indian-cabal-narrative-is-to-protect-the-looting-project-20181119|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.enca.com/south-africa/malema-to-gordhan-i-am-not-scared-of-the-indian-cabal|title=Malema to Gordhan: I am not scared of the Indian cabal|website=eNCA|language=en|access-date=1 January 2019|archive-date=1 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101194044/https://www.enca.com/south-africa/malema-to-gordhan-i-am-not-scared-of-the-indian-cabal|url-status=live}}</ref> The EFF also retaliated against Gordhan by accusing him and his daughter of corruption.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mg.co.za/article/2018-11-23-00-gordhan-decries-eff-attack-on-daughter/|title=Gordhan decries EFF attack on daughter|last=Smit|first=Sarah|website=The M&G Online|date=23 November 2018|language=en|access-date=1 January 2019|archive-date=1 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101193918/https://mg.co.za/article/2018-11-23-00-gordhan-decries-eff-attack-on-daughter/|url-status=live}}</ref> The EFF accusations were proven false<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news24.com/Analysis/fact-checked-julius-malemas-charges-against-pravin-gordhan-20181128|title=FACT CHECKED: EFF's charges against Pravin Gordhan|last=Jean le Roux, Kyle Cowan, Pieter du Toit and Adriaan Basson|date=28 November 2018|website=News24|language=en|access-date=1 January 2019|archive-date=1 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101195445/https://www.news24.com/Analysis/fact-checked-julius-malemas-charges-against-pravin-gordhan-20181128|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2018-11-29-snowbank-bleff-pravin-gordhan-and-the-imaginary-r675m-canadian-account/|title=SnowBank – BLEFF, Pravin Gordhan and the imaginary R6...|last=Poplak|first=Richard|website=Daily Maverick|date=28 November 2018|language=en|access-date=1 January 2019|archive-date=1 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101194152/https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2018-11-29-snowbank-bleff-pravin-gordhan-and-the-imaginary-r675m-canadian-account/|url-status=live}}</ref> and Gordhan laid charge of defamation against Malema stating that the EFF's "determined defence of corruption and the corrupt, using personal attacks, racism and alleged hate speech is not acceptable and must be challenged."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/pravin-gordhan-lays-defamation-charges-against-malema-18267798|title=Pravin Gordhan lays defamation charges against Malema {{!}} IOL News|last=Ndaba|first=Baldwin|date=26 November 2018|website=www.iol.co.za|language=en|access-date=1 January 2019|archive-date=2 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190102002109/https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/pravin-gordhan-lays-defamation-charges-against-malema-18267798|url-status=live}}</ref> The Equality Court declared that the EFF was not guilty of hate speech in its statements relating to Gordhan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politicsweb.co.za/documents/pravin-gordhan-vs-julius-malema-the-high-court-jud|title=Pravin Gordhan vs Julius Malema|last=Sutherland|first=Roland|date=31 October 2019|website=www.politicsweb.co.za|access-date=4 November 2019|archive-date=4 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191104155109/https://www.politicsweb.co.za/documents/pravin-gordhan-vs-julius-malema-the-high-court-jud|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2019-10-31-judge-slates-malemas-juvenile-rant-as-eff-leader-wins-case-against-gordhan/|title=Judge slates Malema's 'juvenile' rant as EFF leader wins case against Gordhan|website=TimesLIVE|language=en-ZA|access-date=4 November 2019|archive-date=3 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191103153033/https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2019-10-31-judge-slates-malemas-juvenile-rant-as-eff-leader-wins-case-against-gordhan/|url-status=live}}</ref> EFF leadership and its supporters have been criticised for using Gordhan's second name, Jamnadas, as a racial [[Dog-whistle politics|dog whistle]] to highlight to his Indian ethnicity in a [[pejorative]] way and question his status as a South African on social media.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-01-23-pravin-jamnadas-gordhan-a-case-study-when-your-name-is-weaponised-by-haters-on-twitter/|title=POPULIST DOG WHISTLES: Pravin Jamnadas Gordhan, a case study: When your name is weaponised on Twitter|last=Snijman|first=Lia|website=Daily Maverick|date=23 January 2020|language=en|access-date=25 January 2020|archive-date=25 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125093356/https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-01-23-pravin-jamnadas-gordhan-a-case-study-when-your-name-is-weaponised-by-haters-on-twitter/|url-status=live}}</ref>