In a post-Valentine’s Day, two-hour press conference on Thursday, 15 January 2024, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema touched on everything from load shedding and the Israel-Palestine war, to the recent deaths of two South African National Defence Force soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
ALSO READ: Malema calls for soldiers deployed to the DRC to be withdrawn
Below, see quotes from the leader of the Red Berets.
Malema on launching EFF manifesto ahead of ANC and DA
“The story that the ANC is the leader of society, no longer exists. They are tailing behind the EFF,” said Malema, when asked by journalists if it was risky announcing EFF plans ahead of the largest and second-largest parties in South Africa.
Meeting the Oppenheimers…
“We don’t know the Oppenheimers. When I saw the Oppenheimers for the first time, was at Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi’s funeral,” Malema said of the Oppenheimer family, particularly Nicky, whom Malema has repeatedly labelled as “white monopoly capital”.
Malema on EFF’s grand plans, if they win national elections
“Why should a president spend R600,000 on a jet? O ja eng [what is he eating]? Is he eating golden eggs?” – Malema responded when asked how the EFF plans to fund its manifesto goals, such as an increase in social welfare grants. “This country has money.”
ALSO READ: EFF non-negotiable policies ‘impractical’ and ‘lack substance’, says new report
It was recently reported that approximately R600,000 was spent for catering on the presidential plane, Inkwazi, for “fewer than 18 VIP guests on a 12-hour flight from London to SA after Queen Elizabeth’s funeral in 2022”, reported Business Day.
He also touched on lowering VAT (value-added tax) to help unburden South Africa’s poor.
“We don’t want 15% on VAT. It must go to 14%. It’s heavy on the poor,” he said.
SANDF soldier deaths in DRC
“The SANDF is sent there to be killed because they not probably trained,” Malema.
“Cyril [Ramaphosa] wants to kill our children [SANDF members] in DRC,” the EFF leader added.
ALSO READ: Mortar bomb kills two SANDF soldiers in DRC
It has previously been reported that the SANDF is “underfunded and overstretched”.
“This neglect means there has not been enough money for maintaining equipment or training properly, as sailors don’t have enough time at sea or pilots enough time in the air,” reported Defence Web.
Malema pokes his former comrade Fikile Mbalula
“The guy [Mbalula] never lies. He tells the truth but he doesn’t have tact,” Malema said gleefully about ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula.
Malema was referring to a supposed Freudian slip by Mbalula in June 2023, where he told a Sunday Times podcast that the ANC could possibly get 30% of the vote come the national elections in 2024.
Malema vows to end load shedding
“Load shedding can end in six months. Brian Molefe is waiting. Matshela Koko is waiting.”
The EFF leader reiterated his promise to end load shedding within six months if they are elected to power. Molefe and Koko are former Eskom CEOs who have been previously implicated in State Capture allegation
ALSO READ: State Capture: Zondo shocked at how Brian Molefe ‘gave away’ R20m
Malema on ongoing Palestine-Israel war that erupted on October 2023
“We are with Palestine. We make no apology about it. We will never be on the side of apartheid.”
EFF leader doesn’t want tendering for toilet paper
“We are going to rebuild the state and build state capacity to deliver to our people. We don’t want tenders. Tenders are a source of corruption. Tender to buy toiler paper!”
The EFF leader later clarified that tendering should be employed for “big projects” only.
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