Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema’s first foray on the election trail in KwaZulu-Natal saw him having to change venues at extremely short notice amid a heavy police presence on Friday.
Malema, who had been due to speak at Ladysmith’s Settlers Park Stadium on Friday, suddenly found himself addressing about 500 enthusiastic supporters at the town’s smaller Kandahar Park Sport Field, watched by a large police contingent.
“We are here to bring change and to bring down the corrupted ways of the ANC,” said Malema.
As he was addressing EFF supporters, about 100 supporters of the local African National Congress branch gathered at the opposite end of the town’s central business district in Wimpy Park and marched to the Ladysmith town hall and back to Wimpy Park. They too were watched by a large police contingent.
It was not immediately clear why the EFF had not been allowed to use Settlers Park Stadium, which is owned by the municipality.
Malema’s visit to Ladysmith is the first stop of a three-day visit to the province that will see him visit Richards Bay, Groutville, Pietermaritzburg, and Durban.
The two political rallies in Ladysmith on Friday, although loud, were peaceful and there were no reported incidents of violence or clashes between the two groups.
South Africa Today – South Africa News
