Johannesburg - The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is South Africa's future ruling party, the party's Dali Mpofu said on Saturday.
“We are your government in waiting, we are,” Mpofu told hundreds of supporters at a post-election celebration at Innesfree Park in Sandton.
The crowd, in response, shouted: “we are.”
“We are giving (President Jacob) Zuma five years notice that he (is to) vacate and go and live in Nkandla or go to jail,” Mpofu said.
Some people with photographs of Mpofu's face held it in the air.
Mpofu, wearing all red, arrived at the park at around 2.30pm and danced on stage before addressing the crowd.
He said the biggest mistake of the ruling African National Congress was to relax.
“They must not relax, their days are numbered. This time we are only firing the warning shots,” he said.
“In 2019, they must head out of Parliament.”
As Mpofu spoke, the crowd cheered.
EFF leader Julius Malema was expected to speak shortly. Supporters cheered and ululated as Malema, , dressed in a navy suit and white shirt, arrived shortly after 3pm.
Some clad in EFF attire formed a human shield from the park gate leading to the stage as his car pulled up.
The crowd shouted: "Juju, Juju, Juju" as he walked by.
The party placed third in the 2014 general election, securing 6.35 percent of the vote with 1,169,259 votes.
Hundreds of people gathered at the park, some arriving in buses, to celebrate the results.
People brought camping chairs, cooler boxes and blankets.
Supporters and members wore red shirts, overalls and the party's trademark berets and gathered on the grass near a stage.
Mpofu said the EFF's success in the elections should be dedicated to a party member who was killed in Vosloorus, on the East Rand.
Thapelo Lekana, 28, was shot four times outside the gate of his house at 5am on May 9, it was reported.
Mpofu told the crowd that it was because of members like Lekana that the EFF did well in the election. A minute of silence was observed for him. - Sapa