/ 4 May 2014

EFF would ‘never steal from government coffers’

Wednesday was D-day for SA's political parties
Wednesday was D-day for SA's political parties

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema on Sunday appealed to South Africans to give his party five years in government to prove themselves.

“We don’t want 20 years in government, we are only asking for five years,” he told supporters at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville, Pretoria.

“If we don’t deliver, fire us. Show us the door and say we want hard workers.”

He said leaders in his party would never steal from government coffers but would instead push for the upliftment of the poor.

“We will never take your hungry children’s money. When you take public funds, you’re taking money that is meant for ARVs for the sick,” he said.

Malema said there was too much money in the country but those in power did not know what to do with it.

He spoke of mechanisms that would be implemented to curb wasteful expenditure and contribute to the increment of grants in the party’s manifesto.

He said ministers and the president would have to buy their own cars and houses as they earned salaries.

“Like all civil servants, buy your own car, houses. Why should we buy politicians cars and houses while they work? The time of politicians being treated like royalty is over,” he said.

No coalitions
Malema told supporters that the EFF would not enter into coalition with any party after the election.

“If we lose, we are not going into coalition. We stand alone,” he said.

“Its either we win 50% or we are not involved.”

Malema said his party was not ready to work with any organisation and risk their mission being diluted.

He said the reason for this stance was because the leaders in the organisation were not after positions.

“Ours is not about positions but fighting the exploitation of our people. Even if we get one seat, we have won because we did not have one before,” he said.

Malema said the EFF was the future and they could not be wished away. He said the party would be in existence for the next 100 years.

“They can’t wish us away, the EFF is the future. Any future without EFF is suffering. The EFF is the solution to the problems you’re facing,” said Malema.

The rally is the party’s final campaign ahead of next week’s elections. – Sapa