The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Commander in Chief (CIC), Julius Malema, embarked on a tour across various regions in Mpumalanga, engaging with community members and unpacking the party’s 2024 manifesto. These community gatherings are integral to the EFF’s campaign for the forthcoming national elections on May 29, 2024. Malema commenced his visit in Elukwatini, within the Gert Sibande District Municipality, on Wednesday, May 8. Subsequently, the CIC proceeded to eMalahleni and Kwaggafontein, both situated in the Nkangala District Municipality.
The EFF’s manifesto outlines policies on land expropriation, employment, load shedding, and maximizing the state’s fiscal resources. Speaking to the residents of eMalahleni, Malema asserted that the town possesses the potential to emerge as the economic hub of Mpumalanga. However, he acknowledged the necessity to address prevailing challenges such as infrastructure deficiencies in roads, water supply, and electricity. ““eMalahleni has got a huge potential to be one of the economic zones of Mpumalanga; if we don’t work through reviving the industries in eMalahleni, we will never revive the economy of Mpumalanga. We want to revive it by opening industries and fixing roads. We will provide water, electricity, and proper roads and invite investors to open industries, which will create many job opportunities. We want to revive factories such as Highveld Steel, located in eMalahleni. ,” remarked Malema. He emphasized the importance of reviving defunct factories like Highveld Steel, situated in eMalahleni, alongside infrastructure development including the construction of a railway network to alleviate strain on road transportation, which often results in damage and accidents. “We are going to revive Transnet, build new railways, and build a new city for democracy,” he added.
Malema went on to say load shedding is human-made and the party will stop it the same way the government stopped black-outs during the 2023 Rugby World Cup and now towards the national elections. Despite adverse weather conditions, the country has remained free from load shedding for the past 41 days. Agnes Matimane from Tasbet, eMalahleni, shared that what moved her about the CIC’s address is that the EFF is going to build bigger RDP houses with flushable toilets inside the houses, not the “box of matches” RDP houses. The current RDP houses are very small for an entire family to stay in, and there’s no privacy. “I am also happy that he said the party will not hire people based on their surnames, but based on their qualifications and whether they have a South African identity document.” Malema concluded his address with the slogan “2024 is our 1994,” which has recently gained popularity for the national elections. “The African National Congress (ANC) has been given a chance for the past 30 years, and now it is time to give other political parties a chance to govern South Africa. May 29, 2024, is our 1994; on the 29th, we have an appointment with the future, and we are going to vote for the future,” he concluded.
