EFF president Julius Malema has taken aim at the ANC and MK Party, declaring that “Mandela is no more” and that young people, rather than former leaders, represent the future.
Malema was speaking at the EFF’s KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Manifesto Rally in Inanda on Saturday ahead of the November 4 local government elections.
“Mandela is no more. You can’t be voting for President Zuma. He’s too old. He’s not the future. The future is you. The future is the EFF. The future is your children,” Malema said.
His remarks came as the MK Party and ANC face separate disputes during their preparations for the local government elections.
The MK Party faces an internal dispute over its candidate lists, with former president and party leader Jacob Zuma ordering an investigation into alleged irregularities. Zuma also removed eThekwini mayoral candidate Zandile Hlophe-Mkhwanazi from the position and the party disbanded its Presidential Task Team.
The MK Party has since named Apostle Mxolisi Phakathi as its replacement for the eThekwini mayoral position, while Hlophe-Mkhwanazi remains at the top of the party’s proportional-representation list for the metro.
Malema takes aim at MK Party
Malema questioned whether the MK Party could provide stable leadership in municipalities, pointing to the changes within the party.
He said voters should not support the MK Party because he did not believe it represented the future.
“We cannot vote for MKP because it’s not the future. The future is what is standing before us here,” Malema said.
He also described the party as “dead” and accused its leaders of fighting among themselves.
“MKP is dead before it was born. They are killing each other. They are destroying each other. They are expelling each other,” he said.
Malema questioned how municipalities would operate if voters were uncertain about who would remain mayor after the election.
ANC candidate dispute
Malema also criticised the ANC as the governing party battles over candidates who were not included on the final IEC lists.
The ANC has been fighting to have 181 candidates reinstated after the Electoral Court dismissed its bid to allow them to contest the elections.
The candidates are affected in six municipalities after the party failed to submit their names to the IEC by the deadline.
Malema said the difficulties facing the ANC showed that the party was losing ground.
“It is dying a natural death. Why would you join a sinking ship? It is dying, and the only organisation rising is the EFF,” he said.
He also linked his attack on the ANC to Mandela’s legacy, telling supporters that the party should be treated in the same way apartheid was defeated.
EFF outlines local government priorities
Malema’s address also focused on the issues the EFF says it wants to tackle in local government, including water and sanitation, jobs, education, housing and social grants.
Malema raised concerns about water problems in Inanda and the sewerage system in eThekwini, which he said needed to be properly managed so that sewage did not end flow into the sea. He argued that a cleaner beach could attract visitors and support the local economy.
Malema said young people, particularly those with qualifications, should be able to access jobs without having to belong to a political party.
He argued that employment should be based on a person’s qualifications and South African identity document, rather than political connections.
The EFF leader also said his party would not take away Sassa grants. He argued that elderly people receiving grants should not have to pay for municipal water and electricity.
His education proposals included free university registration for students who attended no-fee schools.
Malema also called for free Wi-Fi at university residences, in townships and in rural areas.
“Free Wi-Fi means access to Internet, and access to Internet is access to information,” he said.
He called for greater transparency in the allocation of RDP houses, saying beneficiary lists should be available online and at municipal offices.
According to Malema, residents should receive houses that provide privacy, flushing toilets and access to water.
With voters set to go to the polls on November 4, Malema also urged supporters not to drink alcohol before casting their ballots and to make a sober decision.
hope.ntanzi.iol.co.za
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