Shivambu: 'We Knew Economic Emancipation Would Irk Right-Wing Forces And Racists'

AfriForum On Thursday announced it would be pursuing a private prosecution against EFF Leader Julius Malema.
Julius Malema, leader of the EFF, gestures during a media briefing in Alexandra township near Sandton. August 17, 2016.
Julius Malema, leader of the EFF, gestures during a media briefing in Alexandra township near Sandton. August 17, 2016.
Siphiwe Sibeko / Reuters

EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu tweeted his thoughts on AfriForum's plans to prosecute the party's leader, Julius Malema โ€“ dismissing the Afrikaner rights group as "right-wing forces and racists".

He said that "the democratic government must protect itself from narrow capture by AfriForum racists".

EFF spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said the party was not "moved by AfriForum's empty, anti-black and reactionary threats".

We are not moved by #Afriform's empty, anti-black & reactionary threats. Our generational mission for economic freedom is inevitable. Land will be expropriated without compensation! No amount of lynch mob tactics by the racist #AfriForum will deter us! Qina CIC, qina!

โ€” #RegisterToVoteEFF (@MbuyiseniNdlozi) April 19, 2018

While some supported Malema, others backed AfriForum.

Julius Malema has become very popular, with the red sea behind him he's almost untouchable. I see war brewing #Afriforum

โ€” Mpho แนŠetshiแนฑangani (@doxie06) April 19, 2018

The party claimed that what AfriForum is actually targeting, is its land policies.

"Instead of engaging in a democratic debate and engagement on the land question, AfriForum does what their colonial and apartheid forefathers did to freedom fighters, which is criminal persecution and prosecutions for political reasons," the party alleged.

AfriForum on Thursday announced it would be pursuing a private prosecution against the EFF leader. The organisation's advocate, Gerrie Nel, said that Malema would face charges of corruption and fraud.

The case relates to Malema's On-Point Engineering in Limpopoโ€š involving work for the roads department.

In 2012โ€š former public protector Thuli Madonsela revealed Malema's involvement in the lucrative roads and bridges tenderโ€š saying he improperly benefited from the Limpopo government contract.

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