Malema Slams Treasury for Punishing Poor Communities with Fund Withholding

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has criticized the National Treasury for withholding billions in equitable share allocations from struggling municipalities, arguing that this decision punishes poor communities and residents. Malema addressed an EFF press briefing, stating that Treasury's actions deepen service delivery crises in vulnerable communities. He acknowledged the need to tackle corruption but insisted that Treasury should not use residents as 'collateral damage'. Malema called on government to intervene directly against corrupt officials instead of withholding funding. He also renewed the EFF's criticism of South Africa's municipal funding model, arguing that municipalities are not adequately resourced for their responsibilities.