PICS: Bullets fly at EFF rally

Published May 29, 2016

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Richards Bay - Shots were fired, stones were thrown and insults traded as EFF leader Julius Malema brought his local government election campaign to KwaZulu-Natal.

The stage was set earlier this week when the ANC warned the EFF not to hold a rally in Esikhawini, near Richards Bay on the north coast, a known ANC stronghold.

There was speculation that the EFF visited the area to capitalise on divisions within the ruling party. It is the home town of Senzo Mchunu, who days ago was recalled by the ANC as premier of KZN.

The sound of gunfire sent hundreds of EFF supporters scurrying for cover. No one was injured. While it was unclear who had opened fire, one person wearing an ANC T-shirt was arrested and his gun confiscated. The police confirmed the shooting and the arrest.

Malema was unmoved by the disruption and urged his supporters not to run away.

“These people are dogs and they are barking at us because we are going forward. Don’t be scared of these hooligans,” he said, referring to ruiling party supporters who had gathered at a historical memorial site for ANC leaders, which was a short distance from his podium.

“I’m not scared of these cowards,” he said, pointing at them.

CIC @Julius_S_Malema continues to address at #Esikhawini despite the stone throwing by ANC pic.twitter.com/XfOswtzBMG

— EFF Official Account (@EFFSouthAfrica) May 28, 2016

The two animated groups were separated by a wall of police who had their hands full keeping them apart.

Malema drew laughter from his supporters when he said: “The ANC must go down. Zuma must fall because he is a blesser. An old man who behaves like a blesser, doesn’t deserve your vote.”

A blesser is slang for an older man who has sexual relationships with young women in exchange for gifts and cash.

Malema was accompanied by spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi. They are due in uMlazi and Pietermaritzburg today.

The EFF is contesting local government elections for the first time and Malema was confident it would win some municipalities. He said the ground was “fertile” because people were tired of Zuma and the ANC.

“I’m happy to see the ANC running like Sunday school children. I’m happy, fighters, you are doing a great job,” he said, amid applause.

“Zuma is a Standard 2 graduate and wouldn’t qualify to even drive taxis. If the ANC had not done him a favour, he would have been a queue marshal at ranks in Nkandla.

“Let’s not repeat the same mistake, let’s vote him out.”

He also took a swipe at Zuma’s nephew, businessman Khulubuse Zuma, saying he was “walking corruption”.

ANC people now throwing stones at #Esikhawini as CIC @Julius_S_Malema takes stage pic.twitter.com/g1m0VjuZXY

— EFF Official Account (@EFFSouthAfrica) May 28, 2016

Nonhle Mkhulisi, ANC chairman in the Musa Dladla area (the second biggest in the country), accused the EFF of instigating violence by throwing stones and beer bottles at them. “Our members had to duck stones thrown by the EFF. These people are unruly and their gathering is illegal,” she said.

Mkhulisi claimed the police had shown bias towards the EFF and treated ANC supporters with hostility.

“I don’t know why we are treated like this by people who should be impartial,” she said.

Marshal Dlamini, the spokesman for the EFF in KZN disagreed. He said what had happened in Richards Bay showed the ANC did not respect other political parties.

“They organised a mob to disrupt us but we had permission to gather there,” he maintained.

Dlamini believed the ANC was afraid of losing control of the area.

On the question of support, Mdumiseni Ntuli, ANC provincial spokesman said the party was “flourishing” in KZN”.

Saturday’s violence comes just weeks after political parties signed a pledge for free and fair elections.

Political analyst Protas Madlala said the clash was akin to the unrest of the 1990s and was unacceptable, more than 20 years into democracy.

Another political analyst, Dr Bheki Mngomezulu, said there was a lot at stake in the upcoming elections and predicted further violence.

However, he cautioned political parties that this was against the constitution.

The Independent Electoral Commission’s Thabani Ngwira said his organisation would not comment on the clash in Richards Bay until it had received the relevant reports. - Additional reporting by Mervyn Naidoo.

Sunday Tribune

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