BLF’s Zanele Lwana reminds EFF of ‘many rape allegations’

Sunday’s episode of The Big Debate sparked debates on a number of issues, including the Economic Freedom Fighters’ red overalls and the party’s stance on foreigners in the country.

EFF MP Fana Mokoena was criticised for saying the overalls his party-mates wear in parliament were “symbolic”.

“What anyone wears after that is a matter of preference,” he said in a statement that was highly criticised for apparently mocking the plight of the poor.

The party’s deputy president, Floyd Shivambu, has been criticised for wearing the same overalls with expensive shoes.

However, what got the social media streets really talking was Black First Land First (BLF) deputy president Zanele Lwana, whose speech left many saying they were looking forward to having the party being represented in parliament.

Lwana slammed the show for sidelining the BLF, and the EFF for apparently using ANC women as “scapegoats” to hide their own issues.

She said: “I would like to put on record firstly that this programme has decided to ban our organisation, and it’s quite shameful because you belong to the state broadcaster and there is an oversaturation of EFF leaders in this particular discussion.

“I think it’s very unjust, the nature of the conversation is not a debate. It becomes a conversation where people agree with each other, and you’re using particular women in the ANC as scapegoats to hide your own crimes.

“There are many rape allegations that have been coming up accusing the EFF. Women of the EFF have come out with complaints of being victimised…”

For one, a senior EFF member, who holds an influential position at the party’s Capricorn region in Limpopo, has been accused of rape by a 39-year-old female colleague.

The EFF official is a police suspect in a rape case from two years ago, which was reopened by the National Prosecuting Authority  last month.

The incident happened in November 2017, according to what police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo told The Sowetan.

The complainant alleged the EFF official bought them drinks, which led to the allegations of rape against the EFF member.

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The party suspended Patrick Sindane, a Gauteng member of the provincial legislature, accused of beating his girlfriend last year.

In a contrite statement, the EFF in Gauteng said it “apologises unreservedly to all our constituencies and communities” for the “violence committed against a woman by one of the Gauteng Members of the Provincial Legislature, Patrick Sindane”. The EFF added: “We are particularly ashamed as a province…”

(Additional reporting by Gopolang Chawane and ANA)

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