Armed mob attacks Malema in Tembisa

Leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Julius Malema met what has been reported as an “anti-EFF” mob during their local government elections campaign in Tembisa, Johannesburg.

This after an EFF delegation visited the home of a slain EFF member, Kenny Manjomani. The mob prevented the EFF from entering the Sethogka Hostel in Tembisa. According to Richard Poplak, Malema demanded to speak to the leader of the contingent that prevented EFF members from entering the hostel, a request that was granted.

 News24 reports that men armed with sjamboks, knobkieries, pointed sticks and golf clubs attacked the EFF members and the media.

 The violence, which saw News24 journalist Hasan Variawa injured, comes in the wake of the City of Tshwane uproar which saw more than 20 buses being burnt and infrastructure destructed, allegedly by disgruntled ANC supporters.

This comes after the ANC selected Thoko Didiza as the Tshwane mayoral candidate for the August 3 local government elections. The anger over what some say was a flawed selection process led to the violent protest because they want “Sputla” – the nickname of incumbent ANC mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa – to be the mayoral candidate.

The DA called for calm in the area, and condemned factions within the ANC for allegedly destroying the property.

“Tonight I call for calm in the City of Tshwane after the violence that erupted in Atteridgeville, Mamelodi, Soshanguve and Hammanskraal today – over the ANC’s imposed mayoral candidate, Thoko Didiza – escalated this evening,” DA mayoral candidate for Tshwane, Solly Msimanga, said on Monday.

The EFF also called for the arrest of all people who took part in the destruction of infrastructure and burning of buses.

“The police must arrest all ANC factional thugs who are burning buses in Tshwane before they burn schools like they did in Vuwani. Keep them in prison till September for the trial to begin and then sentence them for terms from five to 20 years. Simple,” EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu said.

ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe said in an interview with eNCA on Monday night that the people responsible for the ongoing and developing violence in Pretoria townships were not representing the ANC, but were simply criminals and thugs.

The ANC Youth League (ANCYL) in Gauteng blamed the incident on City of Tshwane outgoing mayor and ANC regional chairperson Ramokgopa. Ramokgopa however denied the allegations and instead called for calm in the area.

Political parties are hard at work canvasing for votes in the build-up to the August 3 elections.

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