WATCH: ANC, EFF stand-off in eSikhaleni

THE Economic Freedom Fighters rally in Esikhaleni on Saturday – a potentially major confrontation with ANC supporters ahead of Local Government Elections in August – went off with relatively minor incident.

The peace was kept by Public Order Police, armed with shotguns and rubber bullets, who formed a protective line between about 1 000 EFF supporters and ANC protestors gathered on the opposite side of the road at Esikhawini Mall.

Despite the strong police presence, stones were thrown at EFF party president Julius Malema minutes after his speech began.

Malema’s private security guards quickly removed him from the firing line as rocks rained down on the roof above the mobile stage. Unfazed, Malema shrugged them off and told his supporters not to run, nor to retaliate and not to be afraid.

‘Let the police deal with these criminals,’ he said. ‘They have come to hear their future president speak.’

Police fired rubber bullets at the crowd of ANC supporters and soon thereafter, a single gunshot rang out.

One man was apprehended and a pistol reportedly confiscated, but police spokesperson Major Thulani Zwane on Sunday claimed no one was charged with any offence relating to use of a firearm.

‘Police are however investigating an alleged violation of the Public Gatherings Act. It would appear that a Section 4 application for permission to hold the event there was turned down by the local municipality.’

The City of uMhlathuze was contacted to confirm, but could not provide comment at the time of going to print.

uThungulu ANC chair Nonhle Mkhulisi meanwhile denied that ANC supporters were responsible for throwing stones.

‘We did not throw stones,’ she said. ‘But if evidence comes to light that we did, we will condemn those actions.’

Protecting property

The visit by the EFF had been mired in controversy, and further incidents on Saturday have stoked the political fires.

A week of verbal spats preceded the EFF’s visit to ANC strongholds in the province and a message warning residents to avoid the area was circulated on social media on Friday. On Saturday morning, the shops at the mall were all closed.

The ANC in the uThungulu District earlier this week announced it would be present at the EFF event to protect what it called ‘organisational property’.

The resolution, taken at a Musa Dladla regional executive committee meeting last Friday, came amid social media reports that the EFF would attempt to destroy the ANC memorial arch across the road from the scheduled venue, the Esikhawini Mall.

‘They hate us because they are jealous,’ said Malema, pointing to the crowd of ANC supporters. ‘We are less than three years old, competing with a party more than 100 years old.’

Click here to view a photo gallery 

Zululand Observer journalist Kyle Cowan was at the rally and captured these images. Watch the video below to what went down, up close and personal: