In their last shows of force ahead of Wednesday’s general election, President Jacob Zuma played the race card, Julius Malema promised to seize politicians’ bling – including Zuma’s Nkandla homestead – and DA supporters were pelted with stones.
[full]Zuma told about 90000 supporters at the ANC’s Siyanqoba (We are winning) rally in Soweto yesterday: “We will strengthen the enforcement of the provisions of the newly amended Employment Equity Act and the Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment Act. Successful implementation will open more opportunities for African, Indian and coloured people, as well as women, the youth and persons with disability, as we reverse the apartheid legacy.”
He tried to reach out to various sectors of society as he reiterated the ANC’s claim that it has a non-racial policy.
“We are one nation, born out of the ashes of racial oppression. We are building a common identity. We sing one national anthem, fly one national flag and embrace our cultural diversity,” he said.
The ANC, said Zuma, would retain its focus on its five priorities: education, health, rural development, fighting crime and jobs.
He promised to create 6million “job opportunities” and build more houses.
His reception was different to those he was given on the previous two occasions he spoke at FNB Stadium – at Nelson Mandela’s memorial service, in December, and at the final of the African Nations soccer championship, in March – when he was booed.
Yesterday was Zuma’s day, complete with a praise singer who introduced him to the crowd.
In a move clearly choreographed to portray him as popular among ANC supporters, the president entered the stadium alone – after other ANC top officials – as the crowd cheered loudly and waved.
Political analyst Mcebisi Ndletyana said Zuma’s emphasis on BEE, land reform and labour laws was a return to “the essence of the movement”.
“They are beginning to pay attention again to BEE, which they have so much neglected .
“The fact that they have not talked a lot about it does not mean it did not happen. They have empowered black people but they did not give the issue policy prominence.”
Malema, the Economic Freedom Fighters leader, looked around at the packed 29800-capacity Lucas Moripe stadium. in Atteridgeville, Pretoria, yesterday and said “By looking at these masses, my way to parliament is guaranteed.”
“They can’t wish us away, we are here to stay … they said we are a joke, now they can’t sleep without mentioning the EFF,” he said.
To applause, Malema said that, once in power, the EFF would sell Zuma’s multimillion-rand Nkandla home and give the money to the poor. He said the EFF would stop the buying of cars and houses by ministers, and take away their credit cards.
Malema held firm to his party’s policy of nationalising land and natural resources.
“We are going to restore the dignity of farmworkers. After the election, we are going to take the farms and give them to workers.
“Mineworkers will never strike again because they will own the means of production …
“Nothing will go to England. We are not scared of white people like others .
“We are going to take back the land. It belongs to us and everything on it, including dagga.”
Malema dismissed the possibility of forming a coalition, particularly with the ANC or the DA.
“If we do not get over 50% [of the vote] we are not going to be involved. We don’t want to be diluted by thieves,” he said.
About 16 DA members were injured, allegedly by ANC supporters who “ambushed” their buses in Alexandra, northern Johannesburg, and Soweto yesterday morning.
A bus driver was seriously injured. DA premiership candidate Mmusi Maimane said the thugs who attacked DA supporters should be arrested.
The party said buses ferrying supporters to the party’s We Can Win concert in Kliptown, Soweto, – where about 8000 supporters had gathered – were pelted with stones. Three buses were badly damaged.
DA leader Helen Zille denounced the attack, saying: “The fact that the ANC is panicking at the prospect of losing Gauteng does not in any way give them licence to endanger the lives of innocent people.” Police brigadier Neville Malila said no arrests had been made.
Gauteng ANC spokesman Nkenke Kekana denied that the party’s supporters were involved.
“They can go to the IEC [Independent Electoral Commission] and that is the level at which we would like to deal with this matter,” he said.
According to a poll by Ipsos on behalf of the Sunday Times, the ANC is forecast to get 63.9% of the vote, down from the 65.9% it won in 2009.
The DA is forecast to grow more than any other political party in this election, winning 23.7% compared to the 16.7% it achieved in 2009. The EFF is expected to finish third, at an expected 4.7%, and the other newcomer, Mamphele Ramphele’s Agang SA, will struggle to breach the 1% barrier.
COPE, at a forecast 3.4%, will lose significant support, according to the Ipsos poll. – Additional reporting by Lehlohonolo Tau and Lindile Sifile.
Source – Timelive[/full]