The ANC yesterday urged state authorities to investigate comments by Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema that the party would remove the South African government “through the barrel of a gun”‚ describing them as a clear incitement to violence.
In an interview with global news channel Al Jazeera‚ aired at the weekend‚ Malema said the EFF was a peaceful organisation but was not scared to fight if the ANC responded violently to its peaceful protests.
“We will run out of patience very soon and we will remove this government through the barrel of a gun‚” Malema said.
The ANC said in a statement that these comments were a violation of the Electoral Code and Charter on Elections Ethics signed by political parties earlier in April.
It was unclear if the ANC intended to lay charges‚ but it “called on authorities to urgently investigate this matter”.
On Monday the Democratic Alliance (DA) also condemned Malema’s comments‚ saying they were evidence that “the EFF is a violent party that will stop at nothing to gain power”.
The exchange began when interviewer Jonah Hull asked Malema how far he was willing to go in his “war” against President Jacob Zuma‚ and reminded him of his 2014 threat to make the entire Gauteng province ungovernable.
“‘We will fight’‚ you said. ‘We have the capability to mobilise our people and fight physically’‚” Hull said. “That’s not befitting of a government in waiting‚ is it?” he asked the EFF leader.
Malema replied: “We know for a fact that Gauteng ANC rigged elections here. We know for a fact that they lost Johannesburg and they lost Gauteng. But we still accepted it.
“But they must know that we are not going to do that this year. We are not going to accept. Part of the revolutionary duty is to fight and we are not ashamed if the need arise for us to take up arms and fight. We will fight.
“This regime must respond peacefully to our demands‚ must respond constitutionally to our demands. And if they are going to respond violently – like they did in the township of Alexandra‚ just outside Johannesburg‚ when people said these results do not reflect the outcome of our votes‚ they sent the army to go and intimidate our people – we are not going to stand back‚” Malema said.
“Zuma is not going to use the army to intimidate us. We are not scared of the army. We are not scared to fight. We will fight.”
In further reaction, the Justice and Peace Commission of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) also called on all political parties to avoid making statements that could incite election violence and civil war.
Bishop Abel Gabuza‚ the chairman of the SACBC Justice and Peace Commission‚ said the commission was “deeply saddened to hear of war rhetoric by the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters”.
“We have seen the evil consequences of civil war in other African countries‚ including massive loss of lives‚ a refugee crisis and irreparable damage to the economy.
“We do not want our nation to take such a path. We therefore appeal to all political parties to refrain from actions and rhetoric that could fuel election violence and civil war.”
Gabuza said the church was also concerned about the rising incidence of violent protests as the country approaches the local government elections.
“Both the increasing incidents of violent protests and the use of excessive force by the police to curb the violent protests are a cause of deep concern. Both should stop.”
The commission believed that the use of excessive force as a deterrent will not in itself solve the complex problem of violent protests‚ he said in a statement.
“If the government wants to stop violent protests‚ it should be serious in its efforts to tackle the root causes‚ including the rising economic inequalities‚ youth unemployment‚ a culture of patronage and the fierce scramble for political positions – especially when such positions are considered as an opportunity for self-enrichment.” — BDlive / Tiso Black Star Group Digital
ANC asks state to probe Malema’s violence threat
In an interview with global news channel Al Jazeera‚ aired at the weekend‚ Malema said the EFF was a peaceful organisation but was not scared to fight if the ANC responded violently to its peaceful protests.
“We will run out of patience very soon and we will remove this government through the barrel of a gun‚” Malema said.
The ANC said in a statement that these comments were a violation of the Electoral Code and Charter on Elections Ethics signed by political parties earlier in April.
It was unclear if the ANC intended to lay charges‚ but it “called on authorities to urgently investigate this matter”.
On Monday the Democratic Alliance (DA) also condemned Malema’s comments‚ saying they were evidence that “the EFF is a violent party that will stop at nothing to gain power”.
The exchange began when interviewer Jonah Hull asked Malema how far he was willing to go in his “war” against President Jacob Zuma‚ and reminded him of his 2014 threat to make the entire Gauteng province ungovernable.
“‘We will fight’‚ you said. ‘We have the capability to mobilise our people and fight physically’‚” Hull said. “That’s not befitting of a government in waiting‚ is it?” he asked the EFF leader.
Malema replied: “We know for a fact that Gauteng ANC rigged elections here. We know for a fact that they lost Johannesburg and they lost Gauteng. But we still accepted it.
“But they must know that we are not going to do that this year. We are not going to accept. Part of the revolutionary duty is to fight and we are not ashamed if the need arise for us to take up arms and fight. We will fight.
“This regime must respond peacefully to our demands‚ must respond constitutionally to our demands. And if they are going to respond violently – like they did in the township of Alexandra‚ just outside Johannesburg‚ when people said these results do not reflect the outcome of our votes‚ they sent the army to go and intimidate our people – we are not going to stand back‚” Malema said.
“Zuma is not going to use the army to intimidate us. We are not scared of the army. We are not scared to fight. We will fight.”
In further reaction, the Justice and Peace Commission of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) also called on all political parties to avoid making statements that could incite election violence and civil war.
Bishop Abel Gabuza‚ the chairman of the SACBC Justice and Peace Commission‚ said the commission was “deeply saddened to hear of war rhetoric by the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters”.
“We have seen the evil consequences of civil war in other African countries‚ including massive loss of lives‚ a refugee crisis and irreparable damage to the economy.
“We do not want our nation to take such a path. We therefore appeal to all political parties to refrain from actions and rhetoric that could fuel election violence and civil war.”
Gabuza said the church was also concerned about the rising incidence of violent protests as the country approaches the local government elections.
“Both the increasing incidents of violent protests and the use of excessive force by the police to curb the violent protests are a cause of deep concern. Both should stop.”
The commission believed that the use of excessive force as a deterrent will not in itself solve the complex problem of violent protests‚ he said in a statement.
“If the government wants to stop violent protests‚ it should be serious in its efforts to tackle the root causes‚ including the rising economic inequalities‚ youth unemployment‚ a culture of patronage and the fierce scramble for political positions – especially when such positions are considered as an opportunity for self-enrichment.” — BDlive / Tiso Black Star Group Digital
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