Johannesburg - Julius Malema's Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) cautioned government on Friday against the excessive use of public funds for commemorative events for former president Nelson Mandela.
“This must be vexing to the soul of a man who always insisted on being humble, but also to always put the vulnerable first,” spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said in a statement.
“It cannot be that governments of provinces, municipalities and the national government has been spending on organising reparative events that include music concerts where artists, events managers are taking home millions of public funds.”
The EFF said spending exorbitantly on events was not a good way to honour Mandela.
“It would not be justifiable that in the end, when all is said and done, the total expenditure on commemorations comes to billions of rands,” it said.
It also called for a planned music concert by the Gauteng government to be cancelled.
“Furthermore, EFF calls on municipalities to subject themselves to provincial government memorial events. South Africa must honour Mandela, and do so meekly.”
On Thursday, Malema, who was expelled as the governing ANC Youth League president, visited Mandela's house in Houghton, and attended the lying in state in Pretoria.
“Thank you [Mandela] for ushering in political freedom... Those who came after you failed to deliver economic freedom,” he said outside the house.
“We are picking up this battle...Viva the militant Nelson Mandela, viva,” he said. - Sapa