EFF not sellouts, insists Malema

POLITICS / 23 August 2016, 6:30pm

Chantall Presence

Parliament – Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema on Tuesday insisted he was not a sellout, saying their collaboration with the Democratic Alliance (DA) was done solely to keep the ruling party out of power in the country’s key metros.

“Now people say to us why do you vote for white people when you say you are fighting white monopoly capital? Hey, the country is collapsing. I cannot keep on saying we are fighting white monopoly capital because after defeating white monopoly capital there will not be a country to inherit,” Malema said during an urgent debate on the recent local government elections which saw the African National Congress (ANC) unseated from power in the key metros of Tshwane, Johannesburg and Nelson Mandela Bay.

EFF leader Julius Malema shakes hands with DA leader Mmusi Maimane. File picture: Elmond Jiyane. Credit: GCIS

“You [ANC] would have collapsed this country, so this is an emergency. We had to pause and rescue this country first and continue to fight against white supremacy and against white monopoly capital so that when we defeat white monopoly capital, then we will find a country called South Africa,” Malema said.

During the first meeting of the new Johannesburg council on Monday, which saw opposition parties defeat the ANC to take control of the metro, EFF supporters protested their party’s position, claiming their party were sellouts.

Eralier at the debate DA leader Mmusi Maimane warned the ANC that the arrogance of its leaders had led to the party’s poor showing at the polls in the country’s metros.

Maimane said he had some sober advice for the ruling party. “To my ANC colleagues on this side of the house, the lesson of this election is very clear – never take voters for granted,” he said.

“The voters are watching us and they will throw us out of office if we disrespect them.”

Maimane took a swipe at President Jacob Zuma, who during campaigning prior to the August local government polls, claimed that the ANC would rule until Jesus came.

“And so I say to my DA colleagues in the 33 governments we now lead: ‘Let us never arrogantly claim that we have a divine right to rule, or that we will govern until Jesus comes back. Let us govern with grace and humility. Let us listen to the people who put us into power’.”

The opposition party leader said the recent polls showed the country was at a “tipping point”, bringing with it the realignment of politics.

“The age of the arrogant dominant party is over. A new dawn of vibrant, multi-party politics is upon us.”

African News Agency