Firebrand Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema has warned that the violent scenes which played out in parliament last week when EFF MPs fought with security were just the beginning.
Malema defended the party’s MPs after they were involved in a brawl with security personnel, saying that they were acting in self-defence and would do so again if needed.
Malema was talking to thousands who attended a party rally held in East London at the Mdantsane Sports Complex. The event was part of the party’s electioneering campaign leading up to the local government elections in August.
Accompanied by party spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi and top EFF leader Mlungisi Rapolile, Malema fired the first salvo towards the National Assembly, saying party MPs would never retreat from parliament.
“We will meet violence with violence. Anyone that attends to us physically, we will attend to them physically. We will never retreat, we did not do anything illegal.
“We just blessed them with water. To those security personnel that were beaten, we acted in self defence,” Malema said to loud applause to the over 5000 enthusiastic crowd.
Clad in EFF colours and the signature red party beret, Malema said it was embarrassing that in the past they had to be beaten up by security and not fight back.
“We are big and we are fathers and mothers, we are married, we cannot be beaten in front of our kids and wives everyday. We have to defend ourselves,” he said, adding that the South African constitution allowed for self defence.
Last year EFF MP Reneilwe Mashabela was allegedly beaten and injured by parliamentary security after Speaker Baleka Mbete ordered that they be kicked out.
“In 2015 honourable Mashabela’s jaw was broken, we opened a case and nothing happened. We have nothing to defend us, but to defend ourselves,” he said.
Malema attacked the Eastern Cape ANC, saying it was the worst province in South Africa. He said that when he was on his campaign trail in the former Transkei, many people said to him the region was better under the apartheid government.
Malema said the province needed to be turned into a “construction site” because a lot had to be done to improve the living conditions of its citizens.
“I do not know why the president of this country has not turned this province into a presidential project. Our people here in rural areas, they do not have even proper roads. This province was the one that was in the forefront against apartheid yet it does not look like a place which produced the likes of Tambo and Mandela,” he said.
On his arrival at the venue, Malema first listened to complaints from community members who filled the sports complex to capacity.
Former miner Sindile Yosi of Mdantsane pleaded with Malema to probe why their pensions were never paid out.
“Please help us, because this government is not willing to do so. We never received our monies from these mining companies and now people are dying as paupers,” the 64-year-old Yosi said.
Responding to the list of concerns voiced by community members, Malema said that the party would put them as motions in parliament.
“All of the grievances you raised, we are going to raise them in parliament. If you spoke here, expect your name to be raised in parliament. If these issues are not addressed by the government we will take them to court,” Malema promised. — siphem@dispatch.co.za
Juju braced for parly scuffles
Malema defended the party’s MPs after they were involved in a brawl with security personnel, saying that they were acting in self-defence and would do so again if needed.
Malema was talking to thousands who attended a party rally held in East London at the Mdantsane Sports Complex. The event was part of the party’s electioneering campaign leading up to the local government elections in August.
Accompanied by party spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi and top EFF leader Mlungisi Rapolile, Malema fired the first salvo towards the National Assembly, saying party MPs would never retreat from parliament.
“We will meet violence with violence. Anyone that attends to us physically, we will attend to them physically. We will never retreat, we did not do anything illegal.
“We just blessed them with water. To those security personnel that were beaten, we acted in self defence,” Malema said to loud applause to the over 5000 enthusiastic crowd.
Clad in EFF colours and the signature red party beret, Malema said it was embarrassing that in the past they had to be beaten up by security and not fight back.
“We are big and we are fathers and mothers, we are married, we cannot be beaten in front of our kids and wives everyday. We have to defend ourselves,” he said, adding that the South African constitution allowed for self defence.
Last year EFF MP Reneilwe Mashabela was allegedly beaten and injured by parliamentary security after Speaker Baleka Mbete ordered that they be kicked out.
“In 2015 honourable Mashabela’s jaw was broken, we opened a case and nothing happened. We have nothing to defend us, but to defend ourselves,” he said.
Malema attacked the Eastern Cape ANC, saying it was the worst province in South Africa. He said that when he was on his campaign trail in the former Transkei, many people said to him the region was better under the apartheid government.
Malema said the province needed to be turned into a “construction site” because a lot had to be done to improve the living conditions of its citizens.
“I do not know why the president of this country has not turned this province into a presidential project. Our people here in rural areas, they do not have even proper roads. This province was the one that was in the forefront against apartheid yet it does not look like a place which produced the likes of Tambo and Mandela,” he said.
On his arrival at the venue, Malema first listened to complaints from community members who filled the sports complex to capacity.
Former miner Sindile Yosi of Mdantsane pleaded with Malema to probe why their pensions were never paid out.
“Please help us, because this government is not willing to do so. We never received our monies from these mining companies and now people are dying as paupers,” the 64-year-old Yosi said.
Responding to the list of concerns voiced by community members, Malema said that the party would put them as motions in parliament.
“All of the grievances you raised, we are going to raise them in parliament. If you spoke here, expect your name to be raised in parliament. If these issues are not addressed by the government we will take them to court,” Malema promised. — siphem@dispatch.co.za
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