JOHANNESBURG – Julius Malema, who was spotted outside Election House in Centurion dressed in party colours by The Citizen, was quoted, “The game is on. Those who feel up to the task can bring it on. We will be in government.”
The EFF leader had arrived at Election House a few hours before the 5pm deadline with his lieutenants, Floyd Shivambu and Dali Mpofu.
Outside the building more than 50 EFF supporters had been waiting for their leader, singing freedom, anti-ANC and anti-Zuma songs.
There was jostling and pushing between EFF supporters and the police when the members wanted to invade the Independent Electoral Commission’s (IEC) headquarters.
Malema, Shivambu and Mpofu walked into the IEC building carrying three cardboard boxes containing the list of the party’s candidates for national, provincial and regional positions they were to contest for. Also in their possession was the R605 000 bank-guaranteed cheque – as required by the IEC.
Earlier the party had pleaded poverty, saying it did not have the money and that the required amount was meant to allow the rich to participate in governing and shutting the poor out.
This was followed by a court application to force the IEC, President Jacob Zuma and Home Affairs Minister Naledi Pandor to reduce the amount. However, the application was dismissed by North Gauteng High Court Judge Joseph Raulinga.
The judgment seemingly forced the EFF on an overnight change of gear to scout for money.
“We did not sleep, we had to run all over asking members for money,” Malema said.
“This money comes from these fighters that you see here today. We have done everything in our power to register. We sold berets, T-shirts, posters, and we got donations from our members to pay this deposit so as to be able to contest the May 7 general elections,” Malema said.
He said the biggest donation of R100 000 came from a member who lived in Pretoria.
The party would contest the national and all nine provinces, he said. He would not say whether he was the EFF presidential candidate or give any indication who was on the list.
Source: The Citizen
