Mining companies, banks must expect protests in bid for land, financial services: EFF

Private sector, particularly mining companies and banks must brace themselves for serious protests by the Economic Freedom Fighters as it rolls out its plan of taking over land and the financial services this year.

The top six leaders of the party told reporters Tuesday, that the leadership would device a plan of protests against mining companies and the financial services sector.

President of the EFF Julius Malema said his party's policy was that foreigners should not own the land and investors with operations locally should partner with locals and benefit the communities in which they have businesses.

"We will occupy the land and [President Jacob] Zuma will pay. Ours is to occupy the land...This is not a programme of action. It is way of living," Malema said.

He said the EFF would oppose any bill put before Parliament which sought to give compensation to people who took land during apartheid.

Malema also used the opportunity to lash at Zuma for blaming apartheid for the troubles faced by Eskom in supplying electricity in the country.

He said the ANC-led government failed to plan ahead for the growth of the population and to keep the promise it made before 1994 in which it said it was "ready to govern".