EFF member dies outside court

Cellphone image of EFF supporters singing outside the Palace of Justice in Pretoria where the party is challenging the constitutionality of fees charged by the IEC.

Cellphone image of EFF supporters singing outside the Palace of Justice in Pretoria where the party is challenging the constitutionality of fees charged by the IEC.

Published Mar 5, 2014

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Pretoria - A member of the Economic Freedom Fighters died after he collapsed outside the High Court in Pretoria on Wednesday.

The man's body lay on the ground covered in foil by mid-afternoon after Tshwane emergency staff tried to resuscitate him earlier.

Metro police, emergency staff and members of the EFF stood around him as they waited for the government mortuary vehicle to arrive and collect the body.

Earlier, staff administered CPR on the man for over an hour.

The man wore an EFF shirt and black jeans and had joined about a hundred fellow members singing outside court.

The party supporters had been singing and chanting since 11am.

They ran around Church Square carrying placards with anti-Zuma slogans.

EFF spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi confirmed that the man, only identified as Max, had died.

“He was running on Church Square, he got tripped by the chains around Paul Kruger's statue” said Ndlozi.

“He fell terribly on his head. His name is Max. It was an accident.”

The party is seeking an interdict against having to pay a deposit to the Independent Electoral Commission when submitting lists of candidates for the upcoming elections.

EFF members would not speak to anyone and barred journalists from taking pictures at the scene.

The EFF has taken President Jacob Zuma, Home Affairs Minister Naledi Pandor, and the IEC to court.

Political parties have to pay a deposit of more than R600 000 - R45 000 per province and R200 000 to fully contest the polls nationally.

On Tuesday, Malema said his party would not pay the amount.

Sapa

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