EFF warns Shaik over remarks
“FOCUS on your fake illness and leave politics to us” was the warning the EFF issued to convicted fraudster Schabir Shaik last night after he spoke out about the party commander-in-chief’s comments about Indians in KwaZulu-Natal.
Julius Malema condemned the exploitation and racism that Africans allegedly suffered from many Indian people‚ in particular South African Indian businesses‚ at the party’s fourth anniversary in Durban at the weekend.
The comments have been slated by many, including terminally ill Shaik, as being divisive.
Yesterday, News24 quoted Shaik as saying: “This fool is misinformed and does not have any insight with regard to business ownership in KZN. Why does he not talk about Huletts and other big‚ white capital and business in the province?”
However, in a statement issued last night, the EFF’s national spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said the party reaffirmed Malema’s comments.
“We [advise] Shaik to focus on his fake illness before we have to call for his parole to be reviewed. It is precisely people like him who instead of confronting the racism African people suffer in the Indian community‚ divert attention by making false alarms that EFF is inciting violence,” it said.
Earlier, the Minority Front‚ initially established by late politician Amichand Rajbansi to protect Indian minority rights‚ said it was consulting with the SA Human Rights Commission over the comments.
MF Youth Association chair, Jonathen Annipen, said: “The Minority Front rejects these racial remarks made by Julius [Malema] and condemns any form of violent action which may result as a consequence of these statements.
“While I am not surprised by these frivolous utterances‚ we stand opposed to the notion that Indian families/ business persons ill-treat their black counterparts.”
He said Malema was “trying very hard to frustrate the democratic gains of social cohesion and nation building”.