Leave Madiba in peace, says EFF leader

28 July 2016 - 09:20 By THABO MOKONE and BIANCA CAPAZORIO

EFF leader Julius Malema says the DA and the ANC should stop squabbling about the name of Nelson Mandela and concentrate on winning voters through their own work. Addressing scores of supporters in Etwatwa outside Daveyton on the East Rand yesterday who had spent almost two hours in the cold waiting for his arrival at a local taxi rank, Malema said the DA and ANC should allow the late head of state to rest in peace and stop fighting over his name."They keep saying we are doing it for Mandela, well Mandela is around no more. Leave Mandela to rest in peace, because he is not here. Mandela has done it for us, we are now doing it for ourselves."They must stop telling you 'do it for Mandela'. Mandela would not be proud of what is happening here," said Malema, referring to the decaying infrastructure and squalor in the township.As the election campaign enters its final phase ahead of municipal polls next Wednesday, the DA and the ANC have been involved in mudslinging over the use of Mandela's name.The war of words escalated this week when the DA unveiled its "Honour Madiba's Dream"election poster in Tshwane.Yesterday, DA leader Mmusi Maimane, who was campaigning in Gugulethu with Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille, invoked Mandela's name saying he embodied the values that all South Africans should aspire to."You know, for Mandela Day, everyone must celebrate Mandela, but when it comes to values of Mandela, now it must be partisan."No. What we are saying is that even when the ANC falls, Mandela will stand because those values are timeless," he said.Malema said it was also worrying that political parties were boasting about how they were pulling big crowds at their midweek rallies."This is evidence to show that people are unemployed."This is abnormal. How can you have such a big meeting during the week, during normal working hours."So, they have been giving you T-shirts since 1994, but not jobs at all," the EFF leader said...

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