Restoring the dignity of the poor and disadvantaged will be at the top of the EFF’s agenda in any of the municipalities it might win in the upcoming, local government elections.
This was the central theme of the party’s Northern Cape campaign trail on Monday when their commander-in-chief, Julius Malema, began his tour of various regions of the province.
Thousands of supporters turned up in Warrenton where Malema urged his followers to stake their claim on the Magareng Municipality and its five wards.
However, the highlight of the day saw a crowd of some 5 000 jubilant supporters gathering at the Pick n Pay traffic circle in Galeshewe.
Malema told the massive crowd that they must not be satisfied with what the ANC has provided since 1994, claiming that it was unacceptable to provide residents with substandard housing and services.
“How can you build a house without a flushing toilet after 1994,” he asked.
“Where is dignity without a flushing toilet? If there is no dignity, there is no freedom.”
Malema further reiterated the need for access to water and electricity, saying that the unemployed should have free access while the poor must pay lower rates.
He further promised job creation, citing the export of rough diamonds from the province as a major contributing factor towards unemployment in the Northern Cape.
“Black people must be confident,” he emphasised.
“They must reclaim the land and give whites a portion only if they first return it to us.
“No whites came here with a bag of land, but now they make us celebrate a big hole.
“We want the diamonds and not the hole. London is the biggest diamond exporter but has no mines.
“In Kimberley, there are jobs for the mining, polishing and cutting of diamonds.
“London does not take cut and polished diamonds.
“They are creating jobs by taking the raw material from us to be processed.”
Malema also promised drastic changes in health, suggesting that clinics be kept open 24/7, as well as education, calling it a crime against humanity not to grant children access to schooling at an earlier age.
The EFF leader also slammed lack of access to hygiene products, saying this has a detrimental impact on pupils’ academic performance by lowering their sense of self worth.
“Why can we give free condoms but not free sanitary towels?
“Twenty-two years into our democracy, children are still forced to use newspaper.
“There should not be a single day where a girl should feel ashamed of being black.
“Being black is something that we should celebrate. Black is beautiful.
“White men walk like they own the land because they have the wealth, land and are confident.”
Malema will be visiting Kuruman on Tuesday afternoon where he is scheduled to meet with local traditional leaders at 2pm followed by a public meeting in Mothibistad at 4pm.
He will also be conducting door-to-door visits, meet the candidates and hold a public meeting in Rosedale, Upington, on Wednesday.
By
[Source: IOL]
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