Bearing grudges: Marshall Dlamini. Photo: Phill Magakoe/Getty Images
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) president Julius Malema is putting forward secretary general Marshall Dlamini as the party’s preferred candidate for KwaZulu-Natal premier.
He said this during his speech at the party’s final rally ahead of the elections on Saturday at Peter Mokaba Stadium, in Polokwane, Limpopo. The party’s deputy president Floyd Shivambu should be the finance minister, he said.
The EFF leader delivered a speech geared towards the youth in his last appeal for South Africans to vote for the party. It is hoping to retain its position as the official opposition and garner more votes in the province.
He told supporters who attended the rally that it would deliver a more stable South Africa, free of load-shedding, unemployment and crime.
Malema said that the party would deploy capable leaders, including those from other parties, who would help bring about a more sustainable economy.
Having crisscrossed the country in the last few weeks, the party leader detailed some of the issues faced by the country’s nine provinces which include lack of access to clean drinking water and housing, as well as inequality and poverty.
Malema said that the EFF’s campaign had run smoothly as its leaders and volunteers had spoken with one voice.
“None of our leaders wanted to outshine one another,” he said, adding that its guiding principle during elections was “many voices, one message”.
He would commit to fighting criminality and corrupt politicians, should he be voted into power. If he were made president, part of his mission would be an investigation into President Cyril Ramaphosa and the Phala Phala scandal.
“I commit that, when I am president, I will not be involved in any form of wrongdoing and corruption,” he said.
Malema also promised to protect the country’s natural resources.
The EFF did not manage to fill the 46 000-capacity stadium. The move to hold the final rally in Malema’s home province was seen as a strategic move by the party to demonstrate its advantageous position going into the elections.
Malema said no government worker would be paid less than R10 000 under his government, adding that government employees, including those the party would insource, would also be eligible for medical aid, pension funds and leave days.
The party has maintained that it is aiming for 1 million votes in Gauteng and another million votes in KwaZulu-Natal.
This goal was threatened by former president Jacob Zuma when he endorsed the umKhonto weSizwe party in December. His popularity in KwaZulu-Natal has threatened the ANC, EFF as well as the Inkatha Freedom Party in the province.
The EFF was hoping to gain enough votes to leverage for positions, should the party go into coalitions.
Malema added that, should the party receive a majority, he would schedule his inauguration as the country’s president on 16 June in honour of the 1976 generation.