Julius Malema rallies EFF supporters for crucial Ward 13 by-election in Seshego

EFF leader, Julius Malema, has taken the fight for Ward 13 in Seshego, Limpopo, to the ANC ahead of Wednesday's by-elections in the area.

Malema, who addressed the party's Tshela Thupa rally in Seshego on Sunday, stated that the EFF is ready to retain the all-important ward with improved service delivery to residents as the cornerstone of the party's promise to the people.

The EFF president, who attended former deputy president David Mabuza's funeral on Saturday, told EFF members that even the presence of ANC Secretary General, Fikile Mbalula, who revealed to him that he will be visiting Seshego ahead of the by-elections, will not change the outcome of the election because the ward belonged to the red berets.

"Do not disrupt your victory by fighting... Winners never fight. When they lose on Wednesday, they will provoke you, but do not be easily provoked. 

"When they provoke you, only focus on what you are supposed to do and just let them be. We must make sure that this ward remains ours. Yesterday, I was in Mpumalanga for the funeral of former deputy president, David Mabuza.

"While there, I met ANC secretary general, Fikile Mbalula, who told me he will be here to claim this ward. I told him to try me, and he will soon find out that we are waiting for him and we are going nowhere," he said.

Malema said only an EFF victory will guarantee improved service delivery to Seshego residents, adding that the community should be proud that Seshego is known even by the White House because it produced leaders such as him.

"All I am saying is that Ward 13 is not going anywhere. Ward 13 will be our ward forever and forever. On Wednesday, when we wake up, we must make sure that the day belongs to the EFF. Even Donald Trump knows Ward 13. There is nowhere in the world where Ward 13 is not known... They know us everywhere because you have produced someone who is being spoken about in the Oval Office. You cannot produce someone like that and turn your back on him. We must be very proud of what we have achieved. This is our ward, and victory is certain," he said.

The upcoming by-election comes after the ANC in Limpopo, in April, came out victorious in the Polokwane Municipality Ward 10 by-election in Seshego, which was previously held by an EFF councillor who resigned after being charged with alleged possession of illegal firearms and ammunition.

Malema urged those entrusted with leading the EFF in Seshego to prioritise service delivery and refrain from displaying poverty to the public, as this is demeaning to those who seek help.

"Door-to-door means you must take the demands and challenges of the people and internalise them. You must not display their poverty to everyone. You must take responsibility for the challenges of the people, as these are our people. We must know their problems and make sure we resolve them.

"People can't struggle while we are here. Why should it take leaders from Johannesburg to come here for their problems to be resolved? If we continue like this, we will be like the ANC," he stated.

Cape Times