EFF marquee torched in Thokoza

EFF leader Julius Malema File photo: Mujahid Safodien

EFF leader Julius Malema File photo: Mujahid Safodien

Published Apr 5, 2014

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Johannesburg - The stage and marquee set up for an EFF rally in Thokoza, south of Johannesburg, has been petrol bombed, the party said on Saturday.

"During the early hours of this morning (Saturday), people came and petrol bombed the marquees, stage, sound system and chairs," said Economic Freedom Fighters spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi.

"No arrests have been made, but we have opened a case with police."

The party's premier candidate Dali Mpofu was due to address the rally at the Sam Ntuli stadium at 10am.

Ndlozi said the event will still go ahead.

"The event will still go on, but at 2pm. Dali will speak."

He said police were monitoring the area, and a helicopter was hovering above.

"We are not going to back down, we will stand our ground and continue with event."

He said it suspected that African National Congress members could have been behind the arson attack.

"Police and the EFF were tipped off 1/8on Friday 3/8 about threats of disruption by ANC members 1/8but 3/8 we thought the disruption would happen during the event."

ANC spokesman Jackson Mthembu rejected the accusation.

"We never do such things. This is an unfair accusation," he said.

"It is totally uncalled-for and anyone who burnt that marquee must be found and prosecuted."

He said the EFF's accusation amounted to negative politicking, which went against the Electoral Act.

Mthembu said the flood gates for negative political practices ahead of the elections have been opened following the ruling by the High Court in Johannesburg relating to an SMS by the DA.

"People have a licence now to say anything about a political party. This is what we feared," he said.

The ANC's application was for the Democratic Alliance to retract a text message sent to more than a million potential voters accusing President Jacob Zuma of stealing public money. This follows the release of the Public Protector's report into upgrades at Zuma's Nkandla homestead.

Judge Mike Hellens dismissed the ANC's application with costs, finding that the SMS constituted "fair comment".

Mthembu said that Hellens failed to take aspects of the Electoral Act into account in his judgement.

- Sapa

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