Rustenburg – The African National Congress (ANC) loved animals more than the people, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema charged on Tuesday.
“The ANC has abandoned the poor. Children sit on bricks at school, they do not have chairs or desks. Think what R250 million can do. How many chairs can it buy…People do not have blankets, yet one man used over R200 million to build a house,” Malema told over 2 000 people in Luka near Rustenburg.
“Do not use emotions when you vote, think. Stop this thing of claiming that you vote for [Nelson] Mandela. Mandela is no more. That is why you do not have water. How can Mandela give you water? He [Mandela] is no more.
“Do not say they fight for our liberation, they went into exile, we voted for Mandela. We do not look back we want real change.”
He was referring to the over R200 million used for security feature upgrade at President Jacob Zuma’s residence in Nkandla in rural KwaZulu-Natal.
He said teachers, nurses and police officers were paid worse than under the apartheid government.
“The ANC government has rendered these professions useless. Nurses no longer serve with pride, half the time they are angry because they are paid little. Police officers accept bribes because they take nothing home. They are expected to arrest the most dangerous criminal and when they get killed or injured on duty no one takes care of their families. We blame them for taking bribes yet they are not paid well.”
Malema told the crowd he was not canvassing for their vote but, wanted to tell them the truth.
“I do not want your vote. I am here to tell you the truth, black man there is something wrong, you have a choice,” he said.
Malema promised to meet Kgosi Lerou Molotlegi of Bafokeng to talk about issues of employment at the mines within the Royal Bafokeng Administration land.
“ I think Kgosi (Molotlegi) and the mine must have a policy that state local people from Bafokeng are the first to be employed or given business opportunities with the mines. We are going to speak to Kgosi and tell him your problems.”
This was after one resident Bella Rangwaka complained that their children were unemployed, yet the mines were all around them. She further lamented that security officers employed by the Royal Bafokeng Administration harassed and arrested residents when they sought to speak out against injustice in their village.
Malema met residents in Kroondal, Boitekong and Luka on Tuesday, as part of the build up for the party second anniversary rally on Saturday, at the 45 000 seater Olympia Park Stadium.
EFF spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said there would be entertainment from various artists after Malema had delivered his speech. The entertainment was expected to last until 11pm. At 12 midnight they would celebrate the birth of EFF with a fireworks display.
ANA