EFF NATIONAL CENTRAL COMMAND TEAM PRESS STATEMENT ON THE SEBOKENG, ZONE 13 AND SASOLBURG PUBLIC MEETINGS, 15 JULY 2013
The Economic Freedom Fighters would like to express sincere and humble gratitude to the communities and peoples of Sebokeng, Zone 13 and Sasolburg for honouring our invitation in numbers this last Saturday, 13th of July 2013. These meetings are part of our objectives to take our clarion call to the ordinary people on the ground as part of informing our NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ON "WHAT IS TO BE DONE".
The communities of Sebokeng and Sasolburg responded in unexpected numbers and expressed their views on this historic question. Amongst other things, people ecstatically welcomed the initiative of a movement outside the ANC and existing political parliamentary organisations along the radical demands and principles of the EFF, with an overwhelming agreement that it is long overdue.
Moreover, the EFF noted several challenges that still painfully confront our people on daily basis. Amongst many grievances raised, the common threads had to do with poor public service delivery and in other places total non-delivery of services. The following came out as key issues in these two meetings:
1. Electricity; that the electricity our people receive is of poor quality and some communities in Sasolburg had experienced load-shedding for a full two weeks without even being given any explanation by those who serve them
2. Informal settlements are on the rise and many people continue to live in bad quality RDP houses that threaten to fall, in some instances completely collapsed. In Sebokeng there were old age people who had been waiting for houses since the dawn of democracy
3. RDP houses are not built in such a way that they serve the special needs of people with disabilities
4. Young people continue to be despondent about the unemployment situation. The educated and uneducated alike are unable to find jobs and those in FET colleges decry high levels of corruption, under resourced facilities and most importantly it's the lack of bursaries for further education and training
It is our conviction that the only political, ideological and programmatic governmental and economic practice that can substantially improve the lives of our people is the one expressed by the EFF. Most inspiring about these meetings is how these communities affirmed the EFF and its radical political demands and principles, where people went to an extant of saying they are ready to fight, and the EFF is what they have been waiting for, for their freedom to find concrete expression.
We further believe that the humbling reception of the EFF by these communities, demonstrated in their confidence and optimism, is because of the alternative path and political vision expression by the EFF which is largely epitomised in seven non-negotiable and just demands:
1. Expropriation of South Africa's land without compensation for equal redistribution
2. Nationalisation of Mines, banks, and other strategic sectors of the economy
3. Building State and government capacity, which will lead to abolishment of Tenders
4. Free quality education, healthcare, houses, and sanitation
5. Massive protected industrial development to create millions of sustainable jobs
6. Massive development of the African economy and advocating for a move from reconciliation to justice
7. Open, accountable government and society without fear of victimisation by State police
The EFF will continue these public meetings and other forms of engagements to inform the NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ON "WHAT IS TO BE DONE"? The total emancipation of our people, particularly economic freedom, is the generational mission we have chosen for ourselves and we are prepared to stop at nothing to fulfil it.
Statement issued by the Economic Freedom Fighters' National Spokesperson, Mbuyiseni Quintin Ndlozi, July 15 2013
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