EFF blames Stratcom for debate drama
THE Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) maintain they will not be instituting disciplinary action against their members and have instead blamed disruptive scenes at the SABC’S election debate on Stratcom.
The party denied responsibility for the incident yesterday after footage emerged showing EFF and Land Party supporters throwing chairs at each other.
EFF spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said they condemned the incident and called on “all fighters to exercise restraint at all times, particularly during elections”.
“It has become common practice that many parties and prominent individuals, as well as agents of Stratcom, want to provoke the EFF and its members. This is because of the obvious progress we are making as a party and the inevitable victory on May 8.
“Whatever happens, we must never fall into this trap, as it seeks precisely to derail us from our well-deserved victory,” said Ndlozi.
In the video footage of the debate that was broadcast live and meant to discuss issues affecting the Western Cape ahead of the polls, two women are seen asking men in EFF regalia why they were assaulting women.
The state broadcaster has since called off the debate.
Ndlozi said this was a time when the party had its focus on preparing for the 2019 general election.
“This is our election, it is our era and no amount of provocation must make us fall into the trap, particularly with insignificant political entities. We must rise above because victory is ours and it is certain.”
The DA, which was also present at the debate, blamed the EFF for the violence that had ensued.
Provincial leader Bonginkosi Madikizela said: “Sadly, the EFF has a track record of intolerance and violent behaviour at public meetings and today was no different. After the debate, they continued to intimidate supporters.
“This is unacceptable and must urgently be condemned and addressed by the leadership of the EFF.” COSATU has lambasted the SA Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) after it accused the union of being racist.
The comments come as the union staged a picket in Cape Town yesterday, calling on the board to support it in its demonstrations to pledge solidarity with Palestinians.
Cosatu’s provincial organiser Paul Bester said: “To call us racist and harbouring antisemitism ideas is not fair. We did not say anything during our picket today that goes along those lines,” said Bester.
He added: “We wanted the board to unite the Jewish people in Cape Town together with all other groups in South Africa. We wanted to come together and denounce the situation in Israel, and hoped that they will understand this.”
The board had earlier accused Cosatu of being racist, saying it was a “classic antisemitic smear that Jews care only for themselves” and are fundamentally disloyal to the countries they live in.
“Cosatu has a long and dishonourable record of threatening, baiting, maligning and insulting the Jewish community and its leadership,” the statement by the SAJBD read.
Cosatu has been an ally to the Palestinians. In 2018, Cosatu president Zingiswa Losi, called on the Anc-led government to immediately downgrade its diplomatic relations with Israel.
Minister of International Relations and Co-operation Lindiwe Sisulu, has since announced that South Africa has implemented “stage one” of its programme of downgrading relations with Israel.
Sisulu said they had decided to withdraw its ambassador Sisa Ngombane from Tel Aviv permanently.