Although hardly a wave of red washing over Princess informal settlement, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) did bring a strong militant message to those willing to listen on 7 December.
The event was billed to start at 10am but as one member eventually told the Record at around 11am, “come back at two, you know African time”.
In the meanwhile the handful of Berets (as they are known) were blaring revolutionary anti-government songs from a sound system, some were drinking beer and one or two even were seen smoking something that looks like dagga – regardless of one solitary police van observing from a distance for a short while.
Children gathered in the veld to play soccer with the Berets and a car full of youths joined the ‘party’, drink in hand. It is uncertain whether they were there by political conviction or for the good vibes that emanated from the giant speaker.
One specific song repeated over and over again exclaiming anti-government and anti-ANC sentiments.
Curious onlookers from the community drew closer, some also having succumb to bringing a breakfast beer or six with them.
Eventually at about 1.30pm a crowd of approximately 200 (local Secretary General Shimi Moepeng apologised for the small crowd saying “the community is probably out Christmas shopping”) gathered to hear their leader Luthuno Gogoro (33), Provincial organiser, speak.
The crowd was reminded by the preceding speaker that they were a militant group and therefore military discipline was demanded. No talking while the leader speaks.
Gogoro is not so much a charismatic speaker as a rousing one. Much like the ‘Commander President’ Julius Malema on whom he obviously styled himself.
And so the revolutionary rhetoric started.
In a rant that used the words “revolutionary” and “revolution” ad infinitum the ANC and President Jacob Zuma were public enemy number one.
“Mr Shower is not going to be president again,” said the fired-up Gogoro.
“The ANC has not delivered in 15 years. The ANC has failed to transform the lives of our people,” and every anti-Zuma and government slant was emphasised with applause, shouting and song.
“This community has to live like animals. But every year when it’s election they (the ANC) bring you food parcels and T-shirts and then you vote for them again,” Gogoro angrily accused the crowd.
Halfway into the speech he seemed to remember Nelson Mandela’s death and asked for a minute of silence only then to proclaim that “we are not going to lecture about Mandela”. It seemed to be a strong message throughout that the EFF members distance themselves from any sentimentality about the ANC, even its glory days.
“They are holding our people at ransom with houses. There is crime against our women and children. Drugs and alcohol. This while the ANC protects the status quo for the white man to remain in power.
“You have to Demand. Demand jobs. Demand skills. Demand free education. If our brothers in Botswana can have it we can.
“It is not yet Uhuru (Swahili word for freedom),” Gogoro exclaimed to a now highly excited crowd.
“A democracy that wants reconciliation before justice is fake. We demand justice first,” Gogoro shouted, fist in the air.
“Rainbow nation? What is this rainbow nation? When a black man has sex with a white woman that is not democracy. White people still control the economy, skills and farms, and are allowed by the ANC to be our superiors. White man is not our superiors, God is,” Gogoro shouted into the distorting microphone with the crowd reaching fever pitch.
Gogoro promised that a vote for EFF would be for free education, and not RDP housing but adequate housing.
“Your ex-president Zuma, or the president of Nkandla lives in a R300 million house but you have to live like pigs. Are you going to vote for the ANC again?” he wanted to know.
Gogoro also warned the crowd that even though they might not own a car that e-tolls will affect everything and themselves. Furthermore he promised that land will be expropriated as in Zimbabwe.
“We will destroy our economy in order to rebuild it,” he warned ominously.
Gogoro also explained that the EFF will do away with the tender system, saying that government has to deliver directly to the people.
“The ANC will never rule again,” he ended before cries of “Viva Malema”, “Viva Biko” and “Viva President Robert Mugabe” went up.
A little boy of about four years old pulled at the journalist’s pants. “Is Malema coming?”
The crowd and cadres then broke out in a song/ chant against their enemies with the chorus, “Voertsek/ f—f” as the Record left.
