Rustenburg - A brief altercation has marked yet another meeting between Julius Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and ANC supporters in a fight over a venue.
This is as political rivalry between the two parties swells.
Police were called to Paardekraal Hall in Rustenburg, North West, on Saturday during a stand-off, with the EFF accusing the ANC of political intolerance.
Malema’s newly hatched party claimed the ANC was out to disrupt its gathering, saying the EFF had booked and paid for the hall, only to find it occupied by the ANC.
In the end, the police decided to let neither party into the hall, but that did not save the situation as the face-off between the groups continued.
They stood about 50m from each other, singing and chanting disrespectful slogans, ridiculing political leaders of the political parties.
At one point, police had to jump in and stop a fight after the groups got too close to each other and a scuffle broke out in front of the gate to the hall.
A while later, the groups retreated and went back to singing and mocking each other’s leaders.
The EFF gathering was aimed at garnering support for an independent candidate for Ward 19, Thembi Thekiso.
The ANC members were wearing T-shirts as part of the campaign to regain the council seat left vacant when an ANC councillor resigned.
Barnad Mtyotywa contested the seat for the ruling party.
With most ANC people now inside the hall enclosure, the EFF began its proceedings outside, with its leaders addressing about 300 supporters from the back of a bakkie.
When he spoke, Malema’s right-hand man, Floyd Shivambu, did not waste any time in tearing into the ANC leadership, labelling President Jacob Zuma, his ANC deputy Cyril Ramaphosa and ANC North West chairman Supra Mahumapelo as corrupt.
“Everyone in the ANC is corrupt. Jacob Zuma and Ramaphosa are corrupt,” Shivambu said to loud cheers from the crowd.
He also accused the ANC of disrupting an EFF meeting.
Shivambu urged people to trust the EFF for better service delivery and said they would benefit from the mines.
“We’re the ones who are going to provide better services, build better houses and will make sure platinum in Rustenburg benefits the people of Rustenburg.”
North West ANC spokesman Kenny Morolong confirmed there had been an incident between his party and the EFF, but said he did not have details.
Another clash between the ANC and EFF was reported at the University of Johannesburg more than a week ago when the EFF’s Kenny Kunene was prevented from speaking to students.
A stand-off erupted between a group clad in ANC T-shirts and EFF supporters, who reportedly tore an ANC T-shirt and stomped on it.
Political analyst Professor Andre Duvenhage said the clashes would “definitely lead to political intolerance”.
The clashes were “gaining some momentum, and that is creating worries for the ANC”.
He said the EFF was drawing big support from the youth and that “means competition, competition means conflict and conflict means violence”.
The Star