The EFF marks 25 years of Nelson Mandela's release from prison

11 February 2015

The Economic Freedom Fighters marks 25 years anniversary of the release of Nelson Mandela from prison on this day. This day represented great political hope for a better life for many of our people who had suffered exclusion and exploitation under the apartheid regime. It must remind us of the power a government can use to disarm a people of its leaders with the aim of depriving them of political direction, guidance and hope.

This is particularly crucial because 25 years after Mandela walked out of prison, the country faces an even deeper leadership crisis, characterised by directionlessness. The historic need of our times is economic freedom to liberate our people from homelessness, hunger, illiteracy, and lack of basic services such as water, sanitation, healthcare and electricity.

Nelson Mandela's walk out of prison came with the unbanning of political parties who had been forced into exile by the intolerant and murderous white minority regime. The EFF marks this day as the anniversary of the freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, the right to politically organise without fear of state intimidation in any form.

We do this even as we face threats of police brutality, simply for wanting to ask questions to the President of the Republic of South Africa. However, like Nelson Mandela who today, 25 years ago defeated the white minority rule, we remain fearless in the conviction that our government must be held accountable.

When Nelson Mandela died in 2013, the EFF marched to his house to pay respects and vow never to betray the course of freedom he represented. We vowed that we will defend his legacy, the legacy of the basic democratic freedoms: the freedom of assembly, the freedom of speech and the freedom to vote.

Our struggle for economic freedom in our lifetime draws direct inspiration from him and we shall be victorious as he did and inaugurate a new image to South Africa and the continent; of a truly economically self-sufficient people.

In marking the 25th anniversary of the release of Madiba, the EFF will deliver a state of the country analysis at Robben Island on the 13 February 2015 and give the country direction after a brief tour of the prison dungeon for those who fought against land dispossession and for political freedom so abused by Zuma and company today.

Statement issued by the Economic Freedom Fighters, February 11 2015

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