By Johnathan Paoli
Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) leader Julius Malema has declared to all progressive forces that he would do everything in his power to bring about economic freedom and common prosperity.
The “Red Sea” filled up the Peter Mokaba stadium in Polokwane on Saturday, with the EFF hosting its last election rally that outlined its manifesto ahead of the upcoming elections on Wednesday.
The leader of the red berets said the African National Congress (ANC) has failed the people of the country and ensured the perpetuation of inequality ushered in by the apartheid regime.
“April 27 was supposed to be the end of apartheid, there’s no apartheid that ended in South Africa. Apartheid has been financialised,” Malema said.
He said the party was at the Peter Mokaba stadium to remind the people of South Africa that it is possible for the EFF to turn this country around.
Malema praised the attendance of supporters at the rally, as well as the work done by party structures in the province.
“There is no bus that comes from outside Limpopo. Unlike others, when they go to Mbombela Stadium they call the whole of South Africa,” he said.
He called upon the youth of the country to come out on the day of election and assist in the collapse of a “government of criminals”.
Malema said that once he was inaugurated as president of the country, he would immediately increase social grants for all grandparents to R4 000 and increase the child support grant to R1 200 per month.
Further promises include his intention to immediately send highly skilled professionals to resolve the water crisis, currently haunting the country.
He noted with concern the growing calls from the nation to deal with the rising crime rate and ensured the audience that the party would effectively engage the problems concerning safety in South Africa.
“The people of South Africa said we must take criminals toe to toe because the murder rate is too high,” Malema said.
He assured supporters of the preparedness of the party’s Mlungisi Madonsela Battalion, a unit which is expected to ensure that voting stations across the country will be safe by deploying party agents to observe free and fair elections.
The party leader said he did not have a history of selling out, and that upon his election as leader of the country, would be loyal to the constitution and make sure it does not only serve those associated with White Monopoly Capital.
Malema said the month of May had seen false claims spreading of the EFF actively encouraging immigration and open borders, and that the party envisaged a government which would systematically address the issues, that there will be no illegal immigration in the country; and that everyone will be documented.
EFF national chairperson, Veronica Mente speaking before Malema’s address, said the party has demonstrated its ability to govern through some coalitions in various municipalities, including providing two members of mayoral committees in Johannesburg and five in Ekurhuleni.
Mente pleaded with voters to allow the country’s third largest party to demonstrate how it can change their lives and said the party’s track-record backs this up.
“We have demonstrated with the insourcing of workers, we have demonstrated by being at the forefront of service delivery where MMC’s are the ones actually unblocking the drains,” she said.
Mente said the EFF does not have “a VIP section” when it comes to service delivery and that all members of the party were both reachable and accountable, and did not refrain from getting their hands dirty.
Malema previously expressed his confidence at the preparation and campaigning done by the EFF in garnering support for the upcoming elections.
The EFF leader was speaking to the media on the sidelines of his final campaigning programme in Seshego on Friday when he said that the party would welcome any outcome delivered during the election.
He said the party had done “everything humanly possible” with limited resources to ensure the EFF had an effective campaign.
“We will accept the willingness of the voice of the people of SA. Whatever the outcome, we will not have a query because we campaigned and no one stopped us, we spoke to our people and no one stopped us,” he said.
He added that the EFF had run a very successful campaign saying that he was confident the EFF’s message had resonated with South Africa.
INSIDE POLITICS
