UMhlanga residents dismiss Malema’s ‘empty threats’
EFF leader Julius Malema’s reposted call to “expropriate the land in uMhlanga with all those beautiful buildings and we don’t want to give anyone a cent …” has ruffled feathers.
EFF spokesperson for KwaZulu-Natal, Mazwi Blose, said the video was a clip from the party’s Siyabonga Rally after the 2021 local government elections in Durban in January 2022.
“The video was re-released when the EFF’s posters advertising our manifesto were removed from the uMhlanga area last week,” said Blose.
In the video, Malema said: “We want the land. Here in eThekwini, we want to start with the land in uMhlanga. We want to expropriate the land in uMhlanga with all those beautiful buildings and we don’t want to give anyone a cent. If they paid money, it’s like they paid money for a stolen vehicle.”
Blose said they planned to amend Section 25 of the Constitution to allow the state to expropriate land without compensation.
“The land in uMhlanga falls within the same jurisdiction of Section 25 and it means that the people of uMhlanga will continue to own their houses and buildings. They can use it but the land will now be under the ownership of the State,” he said.
He added the issue of the removal of their posters had since been resolved.
“Our posters are up once again in uMhlanga. But we are reaffirming our call that we are going to expropriate all of South Africa’s land. All of it. Not
pieces here and there. All of it,” Blose warned.
According to the Joint Constitutional Review Committee (Joint CRC), Section 25 of the Constitution (“There is unequal and skewed ownership of land in the country”) must be amended and be clear about the expropriation of land and property without compensation. This will address historic wrongs of land dispossession, ensure fair access to land and empower the majority of South Africans.
However, community leaders from uMhlanga have dismissed the EFF’s “empty threats”.
Nicole Bollman, the ward 35 councillor, said she was accused of giving authority to take down the EFF posters, and claimed she did not know how she got into the debacle.
“I never gave anybody authority to take anything down. The Ridge Management Association (RMA) manages the Gateway area, where there is a zero poster policy. During election campaigns, nobody can put up posters. I suggested that the RMA contact the EFF, set up a meeting and explain the by-laws, but they were advised by the city to take down the posters.
“The RMA works parallel with the city to maintain the area and is a recognised body. They are tasked to ensure that the by-laws are upheld. There is no hard and fast rule on when one can do electioneering, but it is typically after the president proclaims the election date. It was found that the posters were for the EFF manifesto in February. Anyone putting up posters needs authorisation from the city. There are by-laws in terms of timelines for signage and posters,” she said.
“The EFF have been putting back the posters unlawfully, again. We believe that they are trying to create hype and tension, and they sing the same tune day in and out. Nevertheless, there is something called the law and people have rightful deeds to their property. Nobody should be concerned,” Bollman added.
Convinced that their community is strong together and will withstand any threats, Terri MacLarty, chairperson of the uMhlanga Ratepayers and Residents Association, said ratepayers would stand against land expropriation.
“Rest assured, it will not happen in uMhlanga. We have a strong community. We stand up for a lot and we will stand up against this. We haven’t heard anything other than just shouting.
“People don’t like the way he is behaving and for him to talk like that.
“We know property moves with title deeds. He says we stole the land. Politically, we know different things, but they don’t understand it. It’s just hot talk at the moment, they won’t be able to do this without a proper legal fight and physically either, because we will protect homes and businesses. We will not overreact to threats,” McLarty said.
The chairperson of the Durban North and uMhlanga Community Police Forum, Haden Searles, said the EFF statement was a joke.
“They know that it can never happen. It’s shockingly ridiculous. If Malema could say such things in such a tense climate, then they are trying to incite things. How will they try to pull this off without a severe backlash against the EFF? It’s completely unlawful.
“However, contingency plans are in place for various responses, like we had during the unrest period. But we don’t see this threat becoming a reality, as the backlash will be too great and the EFF will not be able to handle it. UMhlanga is a major economic hub to threaten. Nobody will take this lying down,” said Searles.
When asked if the EFF would target the Indian vote, Blose said: “We don’t target votes based on race. We speak to every South African voter and ask them to rally behind the EFF because it is the only organisation that is fighting for the total liberation of all South Africans.”