Julius Malema's EFF seemingly made a U-turn on land occupation after the BaPedi royal family's land was invaded in Limpopo. Photo: Gallo Images
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is now caught up in a dilemma over its land grab policy and is experiencing the same distress it has dished out on other landowners over the years.
This is according to political analyst Sandile Swana, reacting to the red berets’ outcry over illegal land occupation in Limpopo.
Limpopo party leaders issued a stern statement on Monday, warning land grabbers who erected shelters on property owned by the BaPedi royal family in Mohlaletsi to stay away.
This is despite the EFF having encouraged the public to invade vacant land.
The party believes that the trespassing is linked to the continued tiff over the BaPedi crown.
EFF leader Julius Malema had in March celebrated his birthday with the royal family, led by Queen Mother Manyaku Thulare.
Gifts were exchanged between the parties, with the EFF giving Thulare a brand-new SUV and a borehole for the villagers.
Swana said the EFF is now “caught up” because their favourites are facing land grabs.
“We must thank God for what happened in Limpopo. What will happen if Malema’s land or his uncle’s property is invaded – as is the case now with the Queen Mother, whom they recognise as the right person to run the BaPedi affairs?
“They are caught up this time because now someone that they favour has had their land invaded. They are reacting as any other property owner would react. This is how you would react when your own aunt’s property gets invaded.”
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Swana detailed land possession history in pre-colonial South Africa, saying that there is no vacant land in the country.
All land across the country is either privately owned, belongs to the state or is tribal property.
“No land is vacant and unattended to. It might be vacant to the naked eye, yes, but it belongs to someone or development plans are in place. You cannot, as a political party, take over the rights of the owner and build shacks.
“The issue of vacant land has never been true, and it is only invoked by invaders to undermine certain people. It is a convenience that they use.
“White families, such as the Buys from Eastern Cape who married Xhosa wives and migrated to Limpopo, the Fynn family in KwaZulu-Natal and the Dunns were bestowed with hectares of land by black kings, and even married African wives.
“The Fynns were practically Zulus in KwaZulu-Natal. White people there have been able to claim the land that was given to their Fynn forefathers.
“So, when you say people must occupy land, what history are you using because some of the white people were given land by our own kings? There was a separate group of land robbers, that was separate illegality, but not every white person was a land robber,” said Swana.
Swana added that although trespassing is illegal, no one goes to jail for it.
“Police don’t act. Property owners spend hundreds of thousands of rands and years in court fighting to get an order to evict, and in the meantime, shacks are being built every day.
“By the time you are successful in court, you have a nation to move off your property. You must additionally pay for security like the Red Ants for that to finally happen. Police do nothing but escort private security to do the eviction.”
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EFF provincial chairperson Tshilidzi Maraga denied there was favouritism towards the royal family.
She said a meeting took place with the royal family leaders on Sunday.
The land belonged to the BaPedi tribe, was earmarked for community development and could not be taken over, said Maraga.
“Occupy land that was stolen from our forefathers, that one belongs to the BaPedi royals, not to anyone else.
“No one should come to a yard you own and build a shack, you will call law enforcement to intervene, isn’t it? The invaders trespassed BaPedi royal land.
“These are two different things, that is not a vacant land. The BaPedi never stole land from anyone, so which land must they return? They own it and want it developed,” she said.
Maraga said the illegal occupation started on Freedom Day, and according to the party, the invaders even slaughtered a goat on the land.
Police have since arrested and charged several people, she said.
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