Malema has surprised many by his political astuteness. If he had been Kenyan he would be gorging himself to money, land and positions for his cronies as he cashes in on his new found influence.
The DA cannot act without Malema. Neither can the ANC. Both fell short of a majority which the EFF can provide.
Malema is aware of the anger people still fell for the Whites and is keen to distance himself from the DA by carefully defining his role. However his ultimate prize is to take votes from the ANC and is going after unpopular Zuma demanding his resignation to ensure that he stays put through the next parliamentary elections when the EFF will expand its mandate and extract concessions from the government.
Looking further ahead, I think the South African system is heading to a stalemate the constitution did not envisage and may well resort to the Westminster system with a PM to avoid upheavals.
Malema ought to be worried though. That ANC's loses were DA's rather than EFF's gains.