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MALEMA-NWEST by Molaole Montsho
RUSTENBURG May 6 Sapa
CROWD GATHERS FOR MALEMA
About 1000 EFF supporters gathered in Freedom Park near Rustenburg ahead of the arrival of party leader Julius Malema on Tuesday.
The group, dressed in red berets and red T-shirts, danced in front of an Economic Freedom Fighters' branded truck, ready for Malema's last push to garner votes for his party.
"Re ka selese maburu a re tseela lefatshe re leteng, joina
Malema" (We cannot allow the boers to take our land, join Malema), they sang.
Malema was expected to make door-to-door visits before addressing supporters at a sports ground, which is 400m from a community hall that was torched on April 27.
An election rally to be addressed by Sport Minister Fikile Mbalula was planned at the hall before violence forced its cancellation. Two houses belonging to councillors were set alight and shops looted.
Malema would also campaign in Marikana, where 44 people were killed during a violent strike in the area in 2012. Thirty-four people were killed when police fired on them on August 16 that year. Ten people, including two police officers and two security guards, died in the preceding week.
Freedom Park is near Impala Platinum's (Implats) mining operations and Marikana is close to Lonmin's mines.
Members of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) at Implats, Lonmin, and Anglo American Platinum have been on strike since January 23 demanding a R12,500 basic salary per month.
A singing group of Amcu members arrived at the meeting venue waving sticks and umbrellas.
Sapa
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