Wednesday was D-day for SA's political parties
The crowd rose as he arrived with some whistling and others chanting "Juju Juju". Malema greeted his supporters before he took his seat.
The EFF has said it would transform the state into a people-driven state and to make government accessible to all. The party also promised to increase social grants and welfare to alleviate extreme levels of poverty.
Under the EFF, the government would implement a minimum wage of R4 500 for all full time workers. Mineworkers would earn R12 500, farmworkers R5 000, domestic workers R4 500 and private security guards would be paid R7 500.
ANC has failed people
Malema said the ANC failed people in Mahikeng to an extent that the people longed for the Bophuthatswana government. Bophuthatswana, which was led by Lucas Mangope, was one of ten homelands during apartheid.
"People said they did not like Mangope for suppressing politics but at least Mangope was able to provide services," Malema said. He said the EFF would bury corruption. "Today is the funeral of corruption, maladministration and jobs for sex," he said to loud applause from the crowd. Malema said RDP houses built by the ANC were worse than the match box houses built by the apartheid government.
"The ANC house collapses soon after the handing over ceremony. It literally follows them." He said there was no good story to tell but a "suffering story" to tell. Malema said his party would partner with mineworkers to ensure that they get paid R12 500. "We want security guards to be paid R7 000. They protect us, they work hard."
He said the EFF wanted all to be equal. Malema said Black Economic Empowerment was only benefiting a few people. "The wealth of South Africa circulates between the family of Cyril Ramaphosa and Patrice Motsepe."
The party, in its manifesto, has also ensured there will be free quality education for the poor from early childhood development if it governs the country. The party's provincial chairman Alfred Motsi said the North West belongs to the EFF. "It is your responsibility to remove corrupt people," he told supporters at the EFF's provincial manifesto launch.
"For how long should we postpone the suffering of our people? Can we postpone hunger?" Motsi said the EFF had to win 65% of the vote in North West in the May 7 elections. "We want to implement our policies. We cannot be an opposition. It is your responsibility to ensure that we achieve our goal. Let us surprise them," he said.
Motsi said municipalities in the province could not deliver services to residents and some like Rustenburg were broke to the extent that they could not pay municipal workers. "Rustenburg went out to borrow money from business people to pay its workers. The money will last until the end of April," he said. – Sapa