Juju the closet capitalist?

31 March 2014 - 02:07 By Olebogeng Molatlhwa
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SUNDAY STUMP: EFF leaders Dali Mpofu, left, and Julius Malema egg on the crowd at Ratanda township, near Heidelberg, yesterday. Mpofu is the EFF's candidate for the premiership of Gauteng
SUNDAY STUMP: EFF leaders Dali Mpofu, left, and Julius Malema egg on the crowd at Ratanda township, near Heidelberg, yesterday. Mpofu is the EFF's candidate for the premiership of Gauteng
Image: CORNELL TUKIRI

Has the ANC abandoned the struggle of black people? Can the party still be considered an advocate of the aspirations of black South Africans?

EFF leader Julius Malema yesterday suggested that the 102-year-old liberation movement had abandoned the country's black people while pandering to the whims of the elite.

Without mentioning the ANC directly, Malema was critical of its deputy president, Cyril Ramaphosa, who a few years ago, bid R18-million for a buffalo.

"There is no longer a party for black people. They now pander to the demands of the elite. That is why Ramaphosa can buy a buffalo for R18-million. That is not being black," said Malema, who was speaking at an election rally in Ratanda, Heidelberg, eastern Gauteng.

Malema spoke alongside EFF Gauteng premiership candidate Dali Mpofu, who gave an insight into the party's thinking on the economy and job creation.

Mpofu told about 150 people at Ratanda taxi rank that it was difficult to create jobs and grow the economy because even people who were employed were "underemployed", meaning they were not paid enough for them to be able to make purchases that would stimulate the economy and thereby create jobs.

This could be the first indication that the EFF will adopt traditional macroeconomic policies that it has rejected as "capitalist".

Malema also sought to prop up the EFF's anti-corruption credentials, telling the crowd that should Mpofu, an advocate, be elected premier, he would not steal public funds because he would not be able to practise law if found out.

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