Durban - The EFF KwaZulu-Natal is holding meetings under police guard after tensions with other parties, the City Press reported on Sunday.
“We ensure that when we hold mass meetings we inform the police in advance in order that there is a presence to maintain order and ensure that our right to assembly is respected,” Economic Freedom Fighters national commissar for economic development Sipho Mbatha was quoted as telling the newspaper.
“There have been problems across the province regarding our right to assembly.
“In Zululand, Dannhauser in Mzinyathi and other areas, we have been denied access to community halls. This has forced us to seek alternative venues, often schools for whose facilities we have to pay.”
The newspaper reported that in Dambuza, Pietermaritzburg, two EFF members had been arrested and charged with public violence.
However, Mbatha reportedly claimed this was after they were attacked by people from another party.
“Our fighters held a meeting in KwaDambuza and held a walkabout to engage with the community. They were attacked and beaten, one of them badly. When they went to the local police station, two of them were charged with public violence.... We are concerned that they as victims of assault were themselves charged,” he claimed.
Sapa