EFF – Page 3 – praag.org

Malema openly sings banned anti-Afrikaner song

Hundreds of Economic Freedom Fighters braved the scorching sun for the launch of their party at the Nkaneng informal settlement in Marikana, North West on Sunday.

Members dressed in red berets and T-shirts sat on top of a hill while others sat on the grey clay soil around the stage.

Speaking at the launch, EFF leader Julius Malema said a giant had been born.

“A different baby is born today, a giant… A child that walks immediately. The baby that fights for your living wage. You must be afraid of that child.”

He said the EFF was a home for orphans.

“This is the home for the hopeless,” he said to the applause of the crowd.

He said the EFF was not afraid of confronting white bosses for not paying workers and abusing them.

“You must fight these abuses whether Julius Malema is there or not… You must be a Malema at your workplace.”

He said the police should take off their uniform when instructed to kill innocent people.

“Give them their uniforms and weapons. Tell them you do not want a salary with blood on it.” He was referring to the shooting of 34 mineworkers in Marikana in August last year.

Malema called on teachers to teach pupils first and go on a strike after school.

“When you strike after school the children will join you,” he said.

He told the crowd that the land of South Africa belonged to the landless.

“This is your land. You (the landless) do not have to pay for the land. It has been already paid by the sweat of your fathers.”

He said white South Africans were still refusing to hand over the land they had “inherited through theft”.

“Till today they (whites) are not ashamed of killing our people. They want us to kneel before them.

“We are not going to do that. We are not going to beg for the land. Bring back the land.”

He told the crowd to vote for a real president and not a dancer.

“Refuse to vote for a singer and dancer. We want a thinker to drive the policy of our country.

“We do not want an old man who dances like a teenager. Everytime he dances older people look down with shame,” he said.

The crowd responded by waving their hand in a circle, indicating need for a change.

“We must restore the image of South Africa.”

Malema apologised to South Africans for having Jacob Zuma as president.

“I apologise for giving you a mediocre non-thinker and non-reader.

“We must vote for statesmen, we must vote for the restoration of the image of South Africa.”

Malema vowed to make the Gupta family pay for embarrassing the country, including with their controversial landing of a plane at the Waterkloof Air Force Base.

He said the day EFF took power they would “be punished” for all their “wrongs”.

He concluded his speech by singing the controversial “Shoot the boer” song.

The crowd shouted “Juju! Juju!” after he had spoken. – Sowetan

DA spokesman says ANC much better than ‘apartheid’

EFF leader Julius Malema was wrong to say that the ANC-led government is worse than the apartheid government, DA spokesman Mmusi Maimane said on Monday.

“You may have heard Julius Malema saying over the weekend that the ANC is worse than apartheid. It is wrong to create this impression among South Africans,” he said in a speech prepared for delivery.

“Apartheid was worse because it was a system of entrenched racism. Apartheid was worse because we couldn’t vote out apartheid. In fact, we couldn’t vote at all.”

The Economic Freedom Fighters’ leader said at the rally in Lethabong near Rustenburg, North West, on Saturday that black people would never own land under the African National Congress.

“Our struggle is about land. [Former president Nelson] Mandela was arrested for demanding land,” Malema said.

Maimane said “the sacrifice that so many made for our freedom” had to be remembered.

“Like so many others where I grew up, I used to be an ANC supporter. I believed that the ANC could bring about a better life for me and my family,” he said.

“Since then I have seen how that once proud movement has lost its way under the current leadership.”

He said apartheid was forced on the people against their will, while the ANC was “not compulsory”.

“The ANC is a political party in a democracy. We can vote for another party if we feel let down by the one in power.” – Sapa

Freedom Front objects to EFF registration as ‘party of hate’

Hate speech, a policy based on racism and an economic policy of nationalisation clash with the letter and spirit of the South African Constitution and the Freedom Front Plus has in the light of this, lodged its strong objection with the Independent Electoral Commission to the registration of Julius Malema’s political party, the Economic Freedom Fighters.

According to Mr. Pieter Groenewald, the FF Plus’ chairperson, a strongly worded letter about this matter was sent to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) in which the commission has been requested to decline the application of Malema on constitutional grounds. Individuals and parties had until the end of last week had the opportunity to object to the registration.

“The EFF propagates the nationalisation of land, mines, banks and other assets without compensation and in particular on a racial basis. It is unconstitutional.

“Malema is already been found guilty in the High Court of South Africa of hate speech about the singing of the controversial song ‘Shoot the Boer’ which has subsequently been declared to be hate speech.

“With the singing of the song, Malema created race polarisation and incited emotions against a specific race and ethnic group, which is unconstitutional.

“To date, Malema as the leader of EFF has not shown any remorse. The FF Plus believes that he will continue with his unconstitutional actions and that he will abuse his party as a vehicle for similar discriminating actions and policy directions.

“In addition, the word ‘fighters’ is not suitable for a democratic system where political parties compete in elections in an orderly and democratic fashion. Section 16 of the Electoral Commission Act, states it clearly that any name or abbreviation which portrays the propagation or incitement of violence or hatred, is not acceptable,” Mr. Groenewald said.

A further request was also directed to the IEC in which the FF Plus objects to the English abbreviations of the name of the EFF, as it could lead to confusion amongst the public.

Mr. Groenewald said the FF Plus has already experienced that there is confusion on amongst others, social media networks.

“The FF Plus will in this regard be submitting the necessary proof to the IEC should it be necessary. About the issue of the name, we expect a thorough explanation from the IEC about its decision.

“To date the FF Plus is the only party which is opposing the registration of Malema’s party. We do not doubt for one minute that it is unconstitutional and the IEC will indeed neglect its mandate if the registration of the EFF is approved,” Mr. Groenewald said.

IEC confirms EFF registration

The Economic Freedom Fighters have submitted documents to register as a political party, the Independent Electoral Commission said on Thursday.

“They advertised in the Government Gazette of 2 August 2013 which means the 14-day period for objections expires tomorrow [Friday],” the IEC said.

“The electoral commission will start processing the application for registration after that.”

The EFF, led by former ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema, held its national assembly in Soweto last month.

The assembly resolved to launch the EFF as a political party.

At a news briefing on the sidelines of the assembly, Malema said the organisation had secured over 1000 new members at the event.

Malema said at the time that the EFF would officially register with the IEC after a few amendments had been made, including changes to its logo.

The EFF logo depicted an arrow instead of a spear, and this was to be changed.

Malema said the party would register with double the required number of members needed to contest the election.

“I was told by the IEC that we should have 500 members to register but we are going register with 1100 new members,” he said. – Sapa

Malema wants to emulate Mugabe

Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema said on Tuesday that he wanted to emulate Robert Mugabe and congratulated the Zimbabwean leader on being re-elected president.

Speaking from Nigeria where he was visiting spiritual leader TB Joshua for “blessings” and “divine intervention”, Malema said that he — like Mugabe — was merely misunderstood, according to an eNCA report.

The former ANCYL leader said that Mugabe’s success at the polls should be celebrated.

“They have made their wishes very clear… and we want to congratulate President Mugabe because he has returned the land to the people and Zimbabwe will be one of the fewest African countries which is truly owned by Africans,” he said, according to the eNCA report.

Arrests for looting, violence in Soweto Protea South

Four more people have been arrested for looting at the troubled township of Protea South in Soweto. It brings to 25 the number of people arrested for public violence and looting since Thursday morning.

Police in Soweto have remained on high alert following the violent protests. On Thursday authorities used rubber bullets to disperse crowds after they burnt electric boxes and damaged traffic lights.

Protesting residents chased away Julius Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters when they arrived at the scene of violent service delivery protests in Soweto.

Earlier, Malema told protesters at a violent protest in Kokosi Township in Fochville on the West Rand to fight for land. He also appealed to police deployed in the township to exercise restraint.

Survey shows support for Malema’s policies among black youth

The EFF’s policies of land reform and elimination of national borders within southern Africa will boost youth support for the party, according to a survey released on Tuesday.

Thirty-eight percent of respondents believed Economic Freedom Fighters’ leader Julius Malema would gain support because of its policies, according to research conducted by Pondering Panda.

Twenty-nine percent believed he would lose support and 18 percent believed his support base would not change. Fifteen percent did not have an opinion on the matter.

The cellphone survey was conducted among 2339 people aged between 18 and 34. However, 49 percent of respondents did not support the EFF’s land reform policy, while 37 percent did.

According to the survey, 42 percent of young blacks approved of land reform. Support for the policy was also strongest in the Free State, with 56 percent of respondents approving it.

On the elimination of borders, 32 percent approved, while 54 percent disapproved.

“Although opposition to the EFF’s land and border reform policies still significantly outweighs support for them, what this survey shows us is that they are far from marginal ideas,” Pondering Panda spokeswoman Shirley Wakefield said.

“Young South Africans want change, and other parties should look carefully at the alternatives they will be offering them.”

SARS denies Malema secret meeting

The SA Revenue Service has denied it had a “secret meeting” with Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema.

“Sars does not conduct secret meetings with any taxpayer,” spokesman Adrian Lackay said.

“Any taxpayer has the right to seek remedies from Sars when a tax dispute arises between the taxpayer and Sars, as well as the right to meet with Sars with suitably qualified legal or other representatives.”

Malema said in a statement on Sunday that he, his lawyer and accountant met with Sars officials when he was still president of the ANC Youth League.

“In this meeting, my personal tax matters were briefly discussed in the presence of all. My lawyer and accountant, together with Mr Van Loggerenberg [a Sars official] were then requested by the commissioner to excuse themselves from the meeting and an indication was given on their departure that Mr Van Loggerenberg will be helping us to resolve my issues.”

He said he remained behind with the Sars commissioner and his deputy.

“In this closed session between the three of us, the details of the ‘intelligence dossier’ were discussed, and in what looked like their defence I was told that [President] Jacob Zuma had a similar Sars problem and they helped him with it,” Malema alleged.

“…They both offered to help me with my tax matters because they have done it before with Mr Zuma and other comrades.

“[The then Sars deputy commissioner Ivan] Pillay added that they would do this also because both of them are comrades and that he in particular was from exile.”

Malema claimed to have an “intelligence dossier” which, in his view, proved Sars had a special unit focusing on him and other persons because of their association with and support for Zuma.

Lackey said Sars did not provide preferential treatment.

“Taxpayer behaviour determines what course of action Sars institutes,” he said.

“If the taxpayers needs assistance and is willing to comply with his or her obligations, Sars will provide assistance. If the taxpayer demonstrates no willingness to contest or rectify instances of non-compliance, Sars takes stronger punitive actions.”

He said the matter with Zuma had gone to court and Zuma’s tax affairs were regularised.

“This is all on public record.”

Sars said on Friday Malema had failed to “refrain from making false public statements about the state of his tax affairs and his engagements with Sars”.

As a result it invoked section 67(5) of the Tax Administration Act and revealed a history of Malema’s interaction with it. The act allows it to disclose taxpayer information that would otherwise be confidential.

According to Sars, Malema ultimately accepted that he owed it R16 million in tax. He did not offer to convert any of his assets to pay his tax debt and never asked for any form of payment arrangement.

Sars attached some of Malema’s properties to recoup the R16 million debt.

In May, his incomplete mansion in Sandton, Johannesburg, was sold on auction for R5.9 million.

His farm in Limpopo fetched R2.5 million at an auction in June. Several of his household goods were also auctioned off earlier this year. – Sapa

Malema a ‘serious threat’ says SARS

Julius Malema’s comments about Sars poses a serious threat to the tax-collecting agency’s integrity, it says.

In a statement released by Sars, it said: “On June 27 2013 counsel for [Sars] addressed a letter to Mr Julius Malema and his legal representative, cautioning Mr Malema to refrain from making false public statements about the state of his tax affairs and his engagements with Sars.

“In subsequent weeks, Mr Malema has not only refused to correct his lies, he has in fact repeated such allegations in various news interviews.”

During the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) national assembly last week, Malema said Sars must not allow itself to be used to settle political fights. He said his colleague Kenny Kunene and other EFF members had received notices from Sars stating they were under investigation. Sars had an obligation to rise above political divisions to ensure the public could trust it with their finances, he said. Malema said if Sars continued to allow itself to be used, the EFF would fight back.

Sars on Friday said it was because of Malema’s comments that it had decided to invoke section 67(5) of the Tax Administration Act which allowed it to disclose taxpayer information that would otherwise be confidential.

Malema’s history with Sars
In 2010, Sars contacted Malema when he failed to submit his tax returns for a number of years. It took Malema 18 months, after many attempts by Sars, to file his outstanding returns. “Ultimately he failed to regularise his tax affairs,” said Sars. Malema had still not registered the Ratanang Trust for tax purposes. Sars had to register it on his behalf. “Neither of these situations, his personal income tax affairs and that of the trust, was helpful in demonstrating his willingness to comply with his tax obligations,” the agency stated.

“Such situations do not only speak to the failure of Mr Malema to comply with his statutory obligations, but also the fact that it is not fair for Sars to treat one taxpayer different from another.” After eventually receiving the outstanding tax returns it became clear, through an analysis of the information, that Malema submitted inaccurate information to Sars for the tax years 2005 to 2011. The same applied to the information submitted about the trust.

“All indications were that Mr Malema was attempting to restructure his asset holdings without informing Sars.” Because of this Sars launched a financial investigation into his tax affairs. The financial investigation found that Malema had failed to register for tax in 2005, he under-declared and mis-declared income in the years 2005 to 2011 and was assessed for about R16-million. Malema also failed to submit the tax returns for the Ratanang Trust.

The investigation found that Malema, while engaging with Sars, was transferring assets he owned to third parties in a clear attempt to shift assets outside the reach of Sars, it said. Malema had made no attempt to pay any amount towards his tax debt. “Ultimately when Sars reached a conclusion of how much tax Mr Malema owed … and despite him having had, by his own account at least R4-million available at the time, he opted not to pay one cent towards his tax debt,” stated Sars.

Malema accepted that he owed Sars R16-million in tax, but he did not offer to convert any of his assets towards his tax debt and he never asked for any form of payment arrangement. “Mr Malema failed the procedural requirements to qualify for a settlement for tax debt through his own design, and not because ‘somebody decided’ so.

“Mr Malema must, as we all do, face the consequences of his actions. He had ample opportunity to utilise the various mechanisms provided for in law to state his case,” the agency stated.

Sars attached some of Malema’s properties to recoup the R16-million tax debt owed by the controversial leader. In May, his incomplete mansion in Sandton, Johannesburg, was sold on auction for R5.9-million. His farm in Limpopo fetched R2.5-million at an auction in June. Several of his household goods were also auctioned off earlier this year. – Sapa

Malema, EFF backs Zanu-PF

Newly formed South African political party, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) yesterday called on Zimbabweans to vote overwhelmingly for Zanu-PF in the July 31 harmonised elections to protect the gains of the war of liberation.The EFF party is led by former ANC youth league leader Julius Malema.

“The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) calls upon the revolutionary people of Zimbabwe to defend the Zimbabwean revolution by voting for Zanu-PF and retaining comrade Robert Mugabe as the President of that liberated nation,” the party said in a statement.

“The gains of the Zimbabwean revolution must be defended.

“These gains find concrete expression in the historic and unparalleled land redistribution programme that took land from 4 000 white settler farmers who owed 80 percent of Zimbabwean land, and redistributed it to more than 274 000 Zimbabweans! It is your victory. Defend it by any means necessary!”

The EFF said Zimbabweans stood to benefit economically by retaining a Zanu-PF government which has over the years implemented pro-poor policies aimed at uplifting the lives of ordinary Zimbabweans.

The party saluted Zimbabweans for enduring and surviving a brutal and illegal economic sanctions embargo imposed by the West as punishment for returning the stolen land to its rightful owners.

“The people of Zimbabwe have been punished as a strategy to separate the people from the revolutionary leadership of Zanu-PF and leadership of President Mugabe. We say do not allow the schemes of the enemies of Africa to succeed. Vote for liberation! Vote Zanu-PF!

“We implore the people Zimbabwe to realise that the Zimbabwean revolution is still under massive attacks and new plots are being hatched and new schemes cooked to reverse the gains you have made.

“The demonisation of Zanu-PF and comrade Mugabe is part of the plot to divide the nation for re-colonisation,” it said.

The EFF also called on Zanu-PF to continue implementing the indigenisation programme in order to complete the economic emancipation of the black majority. – The Herald

Minister wants answers about Khanyi Dhlomo’s loan

Kanyi and Mark, the 'Afronaut' — Khanyi and Mark, the ‘Afronaut’

Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies has asked for a detailed report on how the National Empowerment Fund could have granted businesswoman Khanyi Dhlomo a R34-million loan.

Dhlomo, through Ndalo Luxury Venture, received the loan to establish a luxury fashion shop in Johannesburg.

The cash-strapped fund has defended its decision to fund Dhlomo’s Luminance luxury-brands store.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has criticised the National Empowerment Fund’s (NEF) loan for luxury boutique Luminance, co-owned by Khanyi Dhlomo. The clothing store stocks brands that include, amongst others, Giorgio Armani, Tom Ford, Oscar de la Renta and Alexander McQueen

“It has come to the attention of Economic Freedom Fighters that the National Empowerment Fund has granted Khanyi Dhlomo R34-million to open an exclusive elite boutique of overpriced clothes in Hyde Park, Johannesburg,” said an EFF statement on Monday.

“The manner in which the R34-million was approved by the wife of Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa, who is the current [chief executive] of the NEF, is questionable.”

The fund’s CEO, Philisiwe Buthelezi-Mthethwa, praised Dhlomo for her entrepreneurial skills. She said it was “wonderful” that labels such as Oscar de la Renta would now be available in South Africa.

But it seems Davies is not convinced. He said he wanted to establish whether the transaction was in line with the public empowerment process.

“It is definitely our intention as a department that we want to see more public money which supports empowerment supporting actual people who are getting involved in the productive sector of the economy and also in local productivity.

“We are not particularly interested in businesses that are going to be importing luxury goods,” said Davies.

Moemise Motsepe, the fund’s spokesman, told Business Day on Monday that the retail sector was primarily white and foreign-owned but most consumers were black.

“With the Ndalo Luxury Venture transaction, the National Empowerment Fund is laying the building blocks of black participation in this sector.

“Though the fund has funded other black women entrepreneurs, the Ndalo transaction is the biggest by the fund in respect of black women entrepreneurs,” he said.

He said the investment was in line with the fund’s mandate and policies in that it supported a company owned and managed by black women in an untransformed sector.

Last week Dhlomo said her business had a broadly based shareholding. Ten percent of the company belongs to a staff trust and 10% is owned by rural women who will supply the shop.

Dhlomo is the founder of Ndalo Media, which publishes Destiny and Destiny Man magazines and Sawubona – SAA’s in-flight magazine. She is also CEO of Ndalo Luxury Ventures.

The empowerment fund is currently waiting for a cash injection from the state.

Khanyi’s father, Oscar, is a former Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) secretary-general, who is now a casino tycoon.

His daughter and Mark Shuttleworth shared a “special relationship” earlier.

The billionaire “Afronaut” Shuttleworth’s “warm and special relationship” with Dhlomo ended when she married the Nigerian Chinezi Chijioke. – timeslive.co.za/mg.co.za/citypress.co.za

ANC accuses Zanu-PF of destabilising Limpopo

ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe has accused Zimbabwe’s Zanu-PF of using Julius Malema’s party to destabilise the ANC in Limpopo.

Mantashe also accused Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) of distorting the Freedom Charter.

He was addressing political journalists and their editors during an ANC monthly political briefing in Joburg on Monday.

Mantashe said the EFF’s call for grabbing land without compensation and the nationalisation of mines had been influenced by Zanu-PF.

He said the EFF had adopted Zanu-PF’s policy despite the fact that Robert Mugabe’s party had destroyed the Zimbabwean economy.

“The EFF has the influence of Zanu-PF. There have been active engagements between its leaders and with Zanu-PF. Zanu-PF is using them to destabilise the ANC in Limpopo.

“Zanu-PF destroyed the economy of their country. In 1980, the value of the Zim dollar was R1.50 and today it has no value. It is a massive destruction of the economy. I do not want South Africa’s economy to collapse,” Mantashe said.

He also lambasted Malema for allegedly distorting the ANC policy on land, saying the Freedom Charter never advocated nationalisation of mines and land grabs without compensation.

“The Freedom Charter never wanted to take land by force. The charter states that the land is owned by all those who work it. We never propagated the nationalisation of mines. It is not what the Freedom Charter is saying,” Mantashe said.

He said the ANC would not encourage a Zimbabwean-style land grab but would rather allocate farming land to people who had a passion for farming.

“We are not going to give people farms who will in future just use these farms as places for weekend braais. We are going to give land to peasants who are going to use the farms to succeed,” he said.

Mantashe said his party was looking forward to the establishment of its proposed task team to be set up by President Jacob Zuma. One of its priorities would be to stabilise the mining industry. – The Star

Latest EFF gain confuses mine bosses, ‘Boers’

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) scored a significant political victory at the weekend, when one of the worker leaders at the forefront of the labour strike in Marikana, outside Rustenburg, joined the organisation.

Xolani Nzuza was paraded as a prominent EFF member during the organisation’s national assembly at Uncle Tom’s Hall in Soweto at the weekend.

Nzuza was among Lonmin miners who presided over several mass meetings before and after the Marikana massacre, when the police gunned down 34 striking mineworkers on August 16 last year.

Strangely, Nzuza confused the mine bosses, mostly British passport holders, with the “Boers”, or Afrikaners however.

“The president of Nkandla decided to go and meet the Boers and not the workers who voted for him. Once he saw Juju (Julius Malema) was with us, he tried to come. Now, our lawyers have not been paid and are begging for (financial) assistance,” Nzuza said.

He is also a member of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), which recently eclipsed the rival ANC-aligned National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) as the majority union at Lonmin.

His decision to join EFF has raised the organisation’s hopes that it could make serious inroads at Marikana, and possibly around other mines in Rustenburg’s platinum belt.

Nzuza told of workers’ pain at how the government had “abandoned” them.

“We still haven’t received the R12 500 promised to us. Till on Monday, we are still waiting for (President Jacob) Zuma’s government.

It’s painful (because) our brothers died (for that pay rise),” Nzuza said.

He took a swipe at Zuma for siding with the mine bosses and for not paying the legal fees of the families of the slain and wounded miners at the Farlam Commission of Inquiry. – IOL

Malema: I’m persecuted by Indians and Afrikaners

Julius Malema has alleged that the tax case against him is a politically motivated conspiracy run by a group of Indians ‘in bed’ with Afrikaners.The Economic Freedom Fighters leader alleged this in a report by the Sunday Times.

“I’m subjected to political persecution by political leadership led by [Finance Minister] Pravin [Gordhan], with his group of Indians,” Malema was quoted as telling the newspaper.

“It’s a small clique of Indians who are in bed with a group of Afrikaners in [the SA Revenue Service (Sars)], and Afrikaners in the law fraternity.”

He reportedly claimed the “small group of Indians” had a “political programme” against him.

“The Afrikaner are [sic] pursuing a racial hatred against Julius and what he advocates for,” he was quoted as saying.

On Tuesday, Malema’s Polokwane house was auctioned.

Sars attached the property to recoup Malema’s R16-million tax debt.

In May, Malema’s incomplete mansion in Sandton, Johannesburg, was sold at auction for R5.9-million. His farm in Limpopo fetched R2.5-milolion at auction in June. Several of his household goods were also auctioned earlier in the year.

Malema also faces corruption charges in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court. He is accused of making nearly R4 million from corrupt activities, and is out on bail of R10 000. – Sapa