By Lebone Rodah Mosima
“He’s just a small boy,” said Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Secretary General Marshall Dlamini, referring to Ngizwe Mchunu during a clash between EFF supporters and Mchunu’s group ahead of the EFF’s KwaZulu-Natal manifesto event.
The two events were taking place about 5km apart in Inanda, a large township in KwaZulu-Natal bordered by neighbouring townships including KwaMashu and Ntuzuma.
Speaking on Saturday shortly after the confrontation, Dlamini said the incident was not merely a disturbance but a serious matter.
He described Mchunu, a media personality, traditional healer (sangoma) and former radio presenter, as an attention seeker who had posted a video claiming that the EFF would never come to KwaZulu-Natal.
“That’s our programme and that programme is going ahead. So, I came here to ensure and to tell him straight in his face that he’s a small boy,” Dlamini said.
“The EFF event is going to happen.”
Dlamini said the party had informed police and that all the necessary arrangements had been made in accordance with Section 4 of the Constitution.
He said police were also informed of Mchunu’s claims that the EFF was not allowed to come to Inanda, but officers assured the party there were no such restrictions.
“Now, yesterday, this boy comes here and then the police are not doing their part of what they assured us, and the police must know they are established by our Constitution just to mediate between us as civilians so that there’s order and peace,” he said.
“But when they fail to do that, they can rest assured that as civilians and citizens, we will arrive to defend and protect ourselves.”
Dlamini reiterated that the event was not a government programme but a political party event, which the EFF leadership had resolved would take place in Inanda.
He said party leaders were also there to ensure that buses carrying supporters were safe, as they were responsible for ensuring members travelled safely and returned to their families.
“We are accountable to those families, and I am here to ensure that the buses are fine,” he said.
“We are a very peaceful organisation, we are a loving organisation, but every boy must know that we are peaceful to those who are peaceful with us. We don’t have time for nonsense.”
The clash began on Friday after Mchunu claimed EFF supporters crossed over to “provoke” him and his supporters, leading to skirmishes.
A gunshot was reportedly heard after the confrontation.
The EFF claimed that Mchunu’s bodyguards fired the shots during the fight.
Both groups said their events would proceed despite heightened tensions and the arrest of several EFF supporters.
Mchunu accused the EFF of disrespect and said party supporters had confiscated materials for his event. He claimed the EFF had come to Inanda to provoke them.
He said they had organised a cultural event and accused the EFF of deciding to hold a rally and disrupt their planned event.
“The solution, the police and the law must take its course, in the manner that all of these people, they must get rid of the EFF members because it’s a provocation at the maximum,” Mchunu said.
“Yesterday they were here, they provoked us, they shot us. Now they are here again, they want to disturb everything.”
INSIDE POLITICS
