THOUSANDS of disgruntled former Eastern Cape mineworkers yesterday waited more than four hours in King William’s Town for Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) commander-in-chief Julius Malema.
An estimated 3000 former mineworkers from across the province had gathered to voice their displeasure at the failure of government and mine companies to pay out claims including retirement packages, allowances and bonuses since 2009.
The large group – which consisted of elderly and frail former mineworkers, their widows and children – were supposed to have been addressed by Malema around midday yesterday.
But by 3pm, when the EFF entourage led by Malema and the party’s provincial leaders had still not arrived, many packed up and headed home.
Malema, accompanied by EFF’s new recruit and former ANC activist advocate Dali Mpofu, yesterday first stopped in Queenstown.
In Queenstown they addressed thousands of other disgruntled former mineworkers from around the Chris Hani District Municipality.
When the Daily Dispatch arrived at the King William’s Town recreational park grounds around 2pm, there were about 3000 people waiting for Malema, who eventually appeared just before 5pm.
Although many had left, the EFF leader received a warm welcome from those who had remained.
Group leader Sindile Yosi said the former mineworkers had invited Malema to address and help them in their fight to get what was due to them, because “we see him as a leader who is close to issues affecting poor and marginalised people”.
“There are more than 18000 former mineworkers in this province who are facing this predicament of having to wait for our money for years.
“We have been thrown from pillar to post by our government since 2009 and many of us are getting older and some have since died without seeing a cent of their compensation,” Yosi said.
According to Yosi, numerous meetings were held with the provincial government, “with unfulfilled promises of payments being made since 2009”.
“In our last meeting earlier this month, we gave the government until last week to pay all these people but up until now, that has not happened,” Yosi said.
When Malema eventually took the podium he assured the disgruntled ex-miners that his party had their interests at heart and that EFF would do its utmost in assisting them claim and receive their dues.
Malema then used the occasion to lambast the ANC government, saying they were “a bunch of corrupt individuals who were keen on exploiting the country’s labour force, while their pockets continue to swell at the expense of the people.”
His words were greeted by loud cheers. — asandan@dispatch.co.za
Ex-mineworkers’ long wait for Juju
An estimated 3000 former mineworkers from across the province had gathered to voice their displeasure at the failure of government and mine companies to pay out claims including retirement packages, allowances and bonuses since 2009.
The large group – which consisted of elderly and frail former mineworkers, their widows and children – were supposed to have been addressed by Malema around midday yesterday.
But by 3pm, when the EFF entourage led by Malema and the party’s provincial leaders had still not arrived, many packed up and headed home.
Malema, accompanied by EFF’s new recruit and former ANC activist advocate Dali Mpofu, yesterday first stopped in Queenstown.
In Queenstown they addressed thousands of other disgruntled former mineworkers from around the Chris Hani District Municipality.
When the Daily Dispatch arrived at the King William’s Town recreational park grounds around 2pm, there were about 3000 people waiting for Malema, who eventually appeared just before 5pm.
Although many had left, the EFF leader received a warm welcome from those who had remained.
Group leader Sindile Yosi said the former mineworkers had invited Malema to address and help them in their fight to get what was due to them, because “we see him as a leader who is close to issues affecting poor and marginalised people”.
“There are more than 18000 former mineworkers in this province who are facing this predicament of having to wait for our money for years.
“We have been thrown from pillar to post by our government since 2009 and many of us are getting older and some have since died without seeing a cent of their compensation,” Yosi said.
According to Yosi, numerous meetings were held with the provincial government, “with unfulfilled promises of payments being made since 2009”.
“In our last meeting earlier this month, we gave the government until last week to pay all these people but up until now, that has not happened,” Yosi said.
When Malema eventually took the podium he assured the disgruntled ex-miners that his party had their interests at heart and that EFF would do its utmost in assisting them claim and receive their dues.
Malema then used the occasion to lambast the ANC government, saying they were “a bunch of corrupt individuals who were keen on exploiting the country’s labour force, while their pockets continue to swell at the expense of the people.”
His words were greeted by loud cheers. — asandan@dispatch.co.za
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