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Malema: Give us at least one municipality to showcase

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EFF leader Julius Malema addresses the community in Seshego, Polokwane. Picture: Leon Sadiki
EFF leader Julius Malema addresses the community in Seshego, Polokwane. Picture: Leon Sadiki

“There are only two bulls in the South African political space: one called the ANC, [which is] old and tired; and a new, energetic and productive one called the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). You should want to vote for the younger one,” Malema told residents of Mankweng, in Limpopo, last week.

The party has said that it is open to entering into coalitions with anyone – on its terms – except the ANC.

“When the people put the ANC at below 50%, that was a loud whispering to the party that they do not want it. So why should we bring it in through a back door? We would be undermining the will of the people [by doing so],” Malema said, when asked about negotiating a coalition with the governing party.

Up until now there has been no way to hold the political newcomer accountable, but if it wins a municipality, this will become the yardstick that South Africans will use to make their mark come general elections in 2019.

“If you give us one municipality, it will be good because we will put all of our concentration there and run it in an exceptionally proper way,” said Malema.

“We must not run any municipality down, because if we [do so], we are going to destroy the potential of the EFF. We are being given an opportunity in this election to demonstrate what type of government we are going to be when we ultimately take over in 2019.”

Malema added that he was not concerned about the polls, which have predicted growth but no outright wins in the major metros – the battleground for the August 3 municipal elections.

The party leader denied that there were targeted areas for the EFF, saying that to proclaim this would discourage their ground forces.

However, EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu’s campaign in KwaZulu-Natal kicked off much earlier in the year, and the party even hosted a rally in that province a few weeks back.

Malema said that if it appeared that they were in KwaZulu-Natal more often than other places, it was because the province was big and had more municipalities, as did the Eastern Cape.

He added that “Durban [eThekwini municipality] will shock a lot of people because there is no concentration on Durban and the ANC is in tatters there”.

“It is dysfunctional and a lot of people are leaving the ANC. Former councillors are disgruntled with the ANC.”

While the ANC and DA have been battling it out for the three Gauteng metros – Ekurhuleni, Tshwane and Johannesburg – as well as Nelson Mandela Bay, the EFF will look to exploit the divisions in KwaZulu-Natal, where they are likely to win municipalities in financial ruin.

The party has previously indicated that where it wins indebted municipalities, it will head to court to have the debt repudiated.

At the 2014 polls, the EFF underperformed in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape which are traditional ANC strongholds. If they can make a dent in those provinces, it will stand them in good stead for 2019.

EFF national chairperson Dali Mpofu has been stationed in the Eastern Cape in recent weeks, indicating that the party is looking to bolster its support there.

With regard to funding, Malema said that the party was operating on a shoestring budget and had to be prudent in its expenditure. “We get money from the Independent Electoral Commission and from Parliament.

“We also have a party levy, to which all EFF members contribute. I contribute R7 000 a month. Then there are individuals who contribute small amounts here and there.

“If you look at our posters for councillor candidates, they are the smallest in size compared with other parties.”

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