FF Plus maintains its view that the EFF does not adhere to the guidelines of the Electoral Commission Act

The Constitution of South Africa was written to offer protection and freedom within the guidelines of the law to all residents of the country. When it is clear that someone is acting in contravention of this, the Freedom Front Plus will be neglecting its duty if it does not strongly object to it.

Mr. Pieter Groenewald, Chairperson of the Freedom Front Plus, says that the Electoral Commission Act clearly stipulates in Section 16 all the requirements which a political party has to meet to before such a party's registration is accepted and the party is allowed to participate in the election process. The FF Plus is of the opinion that the EFF does not meet these requirements. This is the reason why the party has requested the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to not allow the registration of Mr. Julius Malema's party, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) to take place.

"Everybody who are now joining the fray in defence of Malema's rights and freedoms are conveniently forgetting that it was precisely a court which had intervened to restrict his unbridled freedom of speech by finding him guilty of hate speech following his ‘Shoot the Boer' singing.

"Within the framework of the law, there are clear restrictions as to what is constitutionally permissible and Malema's comments and his racist policy directions are crossing the same boundaries as the singing of his offending song which incited people to commit murder and which was declared to be hate speech.

"With regards to property rights, the FF Plus sticks to its opinion that the EFF's policy is unconstitutional as it boils down to expropriation without compensation. It is clearly unconstitutional in terms of Section 25(2)(b) of the Constitution. The Constitution sets restrictions to protect the integrity of communities, including their cultural and economic integrity.

"The policy of racially-based redistribution will in addition collapse the country's economy and will have disastrous consequences for the country and all its residents," Mr. Groenewald says.

"Regarding the attacks from certain circles on the FF Plus' chief secretary, Mr. Piet Uys, Mr. Groenewald said it was unprofessional as Mr. Uys had submitted the request to the IEC merely by virtue of the office he holds. The objection was formulated by the highest body of the party.

With regards to the English abbreviation of the party's name, Mr. Groenewald said the FF Plus has various examples where voters and in the media there had already been incorrect reporting in which the FF Plus is confused with the EFF.

"Concerning our objection to the word ‘fighters', we are of the opinion that it is ill-considered to couple such a violent term to a party's name, especially seen in the light of Malema's proven background of hate speech which gives the concept a loaded meaning.

"The Electoral Commission was established precisely because it has to take decisions about participation in elections. It cannot register a party which wants to undermine the Constitution. All authority bodies are subject to the Constitution. The EFF does have the right to the Electoral Court if its registration is refused, or to adapt its manifesto and name according to the guidelines of the Act.

"The majority of the people in South Africa want to live in peace and safety, want a good work, good schools and want to have hope for the future. Our Constitution is not perfect, but it is a framework which tries to realize this.

"Malema and the EFF undermine the Constitution in spirit and deed and it predicts nothing good for the country's future," Mr. Groenewald said.

Statement issued by Mr. Pieter Groenewald, FF Plus chairperson, August 22 2013

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