An Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) rally in Esikhawini near Richards Bay in Northern KwaZulu-Natal on Saturday descended into chaos as police were forced to act to keep the peace.
Public order police armed with shotguns and rubber bullets formed a barrier between African National Congress supporters and about 1000 EFF supporters on opposite sides of the road.
Stones were thrown at EFF leader Julius Malema minutes after he took to the stage. He was forceably pushed back by his bodyguards while stones flew at the stage and he told supporters not to retaliate.
“Let the police deal with these criminals,” he said.
Police then fired rubber bullets into the crowd of ANC supporters and soon thereafter a single gunshot rang out. One man was apprehended and a pistol confiscated.
The clash came after a week of turmoil ahead of the EFF’s visit to ANC strongholds in the province. The ANC in the uThungulu district earlier this week announced it would be present at the EFF event to protect what it called “organisational property”.
The resolution, taken at an ANC Musa Dladla regional executive committee meeting last Friday, came amid social media reports that the EFF would attempt to destroy an ANC memorial arch across the road from the scheduled venue, the Esikhawini Mall. The arch was built in memory of ANC members who died during the apartheid struggle.
“They hate us because they are jealous,” said Malema pointing to the ANC supporters. “We are less than three years old competing with a party more than 100 years old.”
The EFF’s drive through ANC territory has been filled with controversy. In Ladysmith on Friday, allegations flew that the ANC had booked every venue and scheduled an event at the same time as the EFF event.
Later on Saturday, however, all appeared to be calm as Malema visited Groutville.
“Thank you people of Ilembe. I see that here we have a peaceful meeting, unlike in Esikhawini,” he said.
Malema is also scheduled speak at meetings in Durban and Pietermaritzburg on Sunday.
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