Ndlozi compares black people celebrating Springboks to congregants who drank petrol

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi stuck to his guns regarding tweets about the Springboks’ Rugby World Cup victory which have been met with criticism and controversy, in an eNCA interview.

After briefly discussing the expulsion of former EFF member Lungile Gabuza from the party, Ndlozi was asked about his recent tweets on the Springboks’ World Cup victory.

Ndlozi laughed when it was brought up, and then gave his thoughts at length.

“We have probably been very misunderstood, we admire the type of black excellence that has been demonstrated by the black players in that white-dominated sport in South Africa, white-dominated team.

“We celebrate them on the basis that it’s black excellence like we do black people who do exceptionally well.”

However, Ndlozi added: “There is a problem with white domination in South Africa, there is a problem in that particular sport and in that sporting code, that must still [be] confronted and dealt with.”

The EFF spokesperson feels “the victory of the Springboks being mobilised to speak about a false racial unity in South Africa which we are unable to be part of”.

He added that the sentiment of the slogan “Stronger Together” is “entirely misleading”.

He told his interviewer he did not believe those celebrating were “mad”.

“They are not mad. We are not populists, we speak the truth whether there are millions following a specific idea or not.

“And that’s what the truth is. There’s no racial unity in South Africa, no unity between black people and white people.”

Ndlozi continued: “The problems in South Africa remain on the basis of racial lines.

READ MORE: Malema agrees with Ndlozi refusing to take ‘sleeping tablets of rugby euphoria’

“You can come out in your millions today to eat out of the euphoria of the Springbok, the reality is that there is no racial unity.

“I don’t care how many millions you mobilise to that reality. It’s like millions of people following a false prophet who gives them petrol or rodents to eat, indeed to believe is something that is not stupid, but you can have people in their millions following a false idea.”

This is a reference to religious leaders such as the controversial Prophet Penuel Mnguni, who was dubbed the “Petrol Pastor” and the “Snake Pastor” after giving congregants petrol to drink and snakes to eat.

Ndlozi was asked if his party’s view on the matter was compatible with promoting national unity.

“Absolutely, you’ve got to be genuine,” Ndlozi answered.

“South Africans must stop living a lie. There are pre-conditions to specific euphorias having grounds in the first place of truth.

“The land, questions of wealth, questions of banks … A lot of young black talent are unable to get entrepreneurial funding in many financial institutions because of the colour of their skin.

“A lot of black professionals who are qualified are being led in corporate by young or even old white people who have not cut their teeth in any school.”

Ndlozi said these realities render the current idea of racial unity false.

“We are not going to participate in this, in 1995 it was the case, in 2007 it was the case, how many times must you be mobilised on a false idea for you to start believing it is false,” he said, saying this “false unity” was not compatible with the reality of most black South Africans’ living conditions.

The interviewer ended the chat by saying it would be up to the “people of South Africa” to decide whether they accepted Ndlozi and his party’s position.

“I’m the people of South Africa as well and I’m making a contribution, that South Africans, let’s stop living a lie,” Ndlozi countered.

(Compiled by Daniel Friedman)

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