DOCUMENTS

ANC an illegitimate govt - Julius Malema

EFF leader also says the character of the judiciary has become regressive

EFF TURNS 8

CIC Julius Malema: Delivers EFF 8th Anniversary message

The occasion of the 26th July remains one of the most iconic dates in the history of liberation struggle in the world. Fidel Castro began what would become the victorious struggle against US imperialism, and went on to build one of the most successful examples of a Marxist-Leninist government, ran with a socialist and people’s mandate.

It was on this very day, that on the shores of Africa, a new revolution was born in 2013, led by a youthful and vibrant movement known as the Economic Freedom Fighters. This organization, would be the first genuine attempt in a fractured and unequal post- Apartheid South Africa, to establish itself with a mandate of national presence and economic emancipation.

As a nation haunted by a dark past of colonialism and Apartheid, South Africa was in desperate need of an alternative to the dominant racist, white power structure, which survives on the poverty of black people in South Africa. This alternative was tasked with responding to the failures of the former liberation movement, while confronting the white supremacy that has stolen the land and monopolized the wealth of Africans.

In Uncle Tom’s Hall in Soweto, activists from the lengths and breadths of the country, gathered on 26 July 2013, on the question of What Is To Be Done? From this historic moment, a baby was born with the ability to walk, and set its target on liberating our people under the guidance of Seven non- negotiable Cardinal Pillars for economic freedom.

The EFF upon its formation made critical observations of what constitutes South African reality, as diagnosis is the foremost part of waging any revolutionary struggle. Having observed that there has been no fundamental change in power relations since 1994, it was resolved that a grass-roots organization that will contest political power to reshape the post-colonial South African situation must be formed.

The basic blueprint of this organization would be 7 non- negotiable Cardinal pillars, namely;

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 victimization by the State Defence, Police and other Agencies.

It is these cardinal pillars, that have allowed the EFF to continue to shape and guide national politics for 8-years and continuing securing critical victories outside of the corridors of governance.

As a movement inspired by the determined Communist Party of China (CPC), which recently observed its centenary, the EFF has become a dominant force in the South African body politic. We have achieved critical victories that have shown that the EFF has the necessary capacity to govern.

The EFF has achieved verifiable victories which represent an organization that is on a correct path of liberating our people.

The mandate of accountable governance has been achieved, through holding the former President Jacob Zuma accountable for non-security related upgrades to his Nkandla homestead.

It is the EFF that ensured over 4 000 workers were insourced in the Johannesburg Metropolitan, and in Nelson Mandela Bay and Tshwane, decisively undermining the parasitic tender system.

The EFF has been at the forefront of the land discourse, elevating it into legislation and initiating the process to amend Section 25 of the Constitution to allow for expropriation of land without compensation.

The EFF remains the only organization that has shown verifiable support to the rallying call for Free Education, and through our Student Movement, have secure free registrations, walk-in registrations and debt clearance, and turned the youth environment into a vibrant and militant arena for ideas and resistance.

We are now in the progress of presenting a Student Debt Cancellation Private Member’s Bill, to clear student debt of young people who have met the requirements to receive their qualifications.

This is among various legislation such as the proposal to establish a State-Owned Bank, and superior submissions to curb corruption by the financial sector, to allow government to control monetary policy.

The EFF has in all sectors surpassed the so-called former liberation movement and toothless trade unions, in championing struggles upon which they base their existence.

The fact of the matter is that the ruling party and all of its allies have become managers of the affairs of capital, as such are unable to maintain their legitimacy. It is for this reason that it is a government that is unable to engage its people and sends the army when there is political instability. By doing this, the puppet regime of the ANC has become an illegitimate government similar to those in Myanmar, Uganda and eSwatini.

As we celebrate the 8th Anniversary, the primary objective of the EFF must therefore be the establishment of the EFF as an organization with national presence. It is only through this national presence that we will accomplish sincere restoration of land to its rightful owners, the black majority, not the artificial attempts of amending the constitution currently being pursued by the ruling party.

It is only through the building of this National and continental economic emancipation movement, that we will be able to rescue our judiciary from the apparent and obvious capture, by capital and it’s lackeys. The character of the judiciary has become regressive, this is shown by its refusal to align itself with accountability in terms of the CR17 bank statements, which carry evidence of premeditated capture of the state.

This capture has become so entrenched, that even during a global health pandemic, the President of the country has turned himself into a marketing agent of a Western-aligned vaccine in Johnson and Johnson, at the expense of life.

It is a capture that permeates in the media and has subjected all members of society to misery and promotion of mediocrity.

The EFF must therefore use its growth as a motivation to not only win municipalities to ensure they are people-orientated and deliver basic services but rescue all sectors of society whose collapse has been fast-tracked by the poor-handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This is from the creative industry, that is subjected to neglect, and artists who are victims of super-exploitation by record companies and even the public broadcaster in the form of SABC radio.

The EFF must continue being the only dependable organization for the creative industry, improving in our existing efforts of the Artist Solidarity Fund, by pushing legislation to protect workers rights and ensuring they receive royalties for their contributions of maintaining the soul of society.

Ground forces must remain disciplined, and protect and love one another, as we intensify our organizational building process, in Branch and Regional People’s Assemblies. We salute all of our members for building this movement of the people without spilling a single drop of blood.

This is a sign that once the EFF governs, we will never see internal political party warfare, spill into the streets of the nation.

Let us continue to build a continental organization that understands the need for Pan- Africanism and progressive internationalism at the centre of our struggle. May we forever remember that we will never be free until the people of Africa and the people of Palestine are all liberated.

May we remain true to the identity that inspired our existence, of the Cuban Revolution that always practiced internationalism in its outlook for building a socialist world. Our solidarity with the oppressed people of the world must be meaningful and practical, in the same way the Cubans did, for the people of Africa.

Hasta La Victoria Siempre, Long Live the Economic Freedom Fighters!

This item was first published in the new EFF journal THE RADICAL VOICE: FOR THE POOR AND WORKING CLASS. Volume 1, July 2021 (see PDF)