'Malema hired guards, shot rubber bullets at EFF members' group alleges

A group of EFF members claimed on Monday they were barred from participating in the party's Gauteng provincial conference at the weekend.

"Some of us were denied entry to attend even though we were nominated by our branches as delegates," said Lufuno Gogoro from the Economic Freedom Fighter's branch in Ward 24 Johannesburg.

"Eventually there was chaos. [EFF leader] Julius [Malema] hired private security guards and shot rubber bullets at EFF members and one person was injured."

EFF national spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi could not be reached for comment.

Gogoro said the police were called.

The police could also not be reached for comment on Monday.

The EFF's Gauteng people's assembly was held in Meyerton, Midvaal. Provincial leadership was elected at the conference.

Gogoro is among a group of EFF members, calling themselves defenders of the EFF constitution, which had planned to approach the High Court in Johannesburg on Friday for an urgent interdict against Malema and the EFF's leadership.

It wanted a stop put to the party's provincial conferences and its national people's assembly, which is expected to be held in December.

Gogoro also wanted the court to verify his party membership, claiming Malema had announced his expulsion without informing him of the reason.

On Friday, he said the group withdrew its court application after Malema's lawyers produced an agreement that Gogoro be allowed to attend the people's assembly and to stand for the post of provincial chair.

On Monday, Gogoro said the group would reinstate its court action against the EFF.

"We were of the view that we would be allowed to participate [in the conference]. This was supported by a court affidavit from the EFF lawyers. They turned back on that [agreement]," he said.

The group would meet its lawyers later this week.