Julius Malema during the EFF’s national shutdown. (Photo: EMMANUEL CROSET / AFP)
Following the threats, victimization and fear-mongering by Julius Malema that South Africa would be forced to a standstill on March 20, we can ask: “Did the mountain give birth to a mouse?”
Naturally, there was great uncertainty and also anticipation for what could be unlocked in order to experience a destabilized environment on a large scale. These were indeed Malema’s threats towards anyone who came in the EFF’s barrage.
In organized communities in South Africa, contingency plans were dusted off, security systems tested and planning meetings held to be ready for the worst. Of his demands, which contained no ambiguity, namely that load-shedding should be stopped and the president of the country should resign, little came of it.
The EFF’s motivation as to why this day had to be held to bring about change is something that few residents of the country would disagree with. The destructive results of the policy environment of the ANC, modeled on an outdated ideology that has only caused poverty and much sadness worldwide, is experienced by everyone in the country.
The bull in the china cabinet has indeed been doing its work of destruction for almost 30 years. The ANC government therefore gives sufficient reason for people to demonstrate their dissatisfaction. The amount of riots experienced daily is proof of that.
The problem with the EFF and Julius Malema is that the policy direction they preach and pursue cannot offer any solution to all the things they mention that need to be addressed. This will only generate further troublemakers in the closet and the problems will only escalate.
One big problem is that it seems that the followers of the particular policy, which both the ANC and EFF pursue with only a slightly more radical approach by the EFF, consider that prosperity is something that exists and that it can only be used. As an example, land as one of the production factors in a farm is certainly not wealth, but it must play a specific role in the production process in order to achieve profitability together with the other factors, namely the entrepreneur, capital and labour, if properly managed. . Prosperity must be created by responsible entrepreneurs, who are profitable and who also fund the state through taxes.
The uncertainty that is increasing more and more is causing these entrepreneurs who have to feed the fiscus to leave the country in greater numbers. Our country’s taxpayers are running out. Even capital as a factor of production becomes scarce. Since January 2023, more than R100 billion of foreign capital has left the country due to the uncertainty. The ANC’s policy of cadre deployment and accompanying corruption and self-enrichment is stealing the future of every resident of the country, and especially our young people. Along with this, unemployment and poverty rise every year and this also brings greater crime.
The EFF’s attack can almost be compared to a person trapped in the field, with his back against a tree, by a pack of wild dogs that want to tear him apart. Then a black mamba came out of a hole and pecked one of the wild dogs to death. This act of the mamba does not suddenly make him the person’s friend, because if the mamba gets the chance, he will peck the person too. It is important that we keep context. If the EFF were to point out certain matters, which of course are also unacceptable to us, but are actually doing it for their personal gain, their approach would perhaps have a more deadly sting for the country’s future.
The EFF’s outspoken threats and victimization that preceded 20 March cannot be seen other than as economic sabotage against the country. The consequences of this fear that was created was that many establishments such as shops and factories did choose to close for the day.
Economically, our country has suffered damage, the extent of which is almost impossible to determine. The economic gears function as the market forces have evaluated businesses over time and if profitable businesses will still be in operation. However, losing any business opportunities puts greater pressure on profitability, causing a snowball effect.
Just by expressing their threats, the EFF and Julius Malema had a negative effect on the economy and this can be seen as economic sabotage which can ultimately be defined as treason. It is unacceptable that any person launches such an attack against the country and it is all the more unacceptable that it is a political party that sits in parliament and has all channels at their disposal to address the discourse of the country. Malema is supposed to help create legislation in parliament that will benefit the country’s residents.
Bennie van Zyl, general manager of TLU SA. (Photo: Du Preez de Villiers)
In light of that, TLU SA already laid criminal charges against Julius Malema and the EFF for economic sabotage on 10 March. The matter is now in the state’s hands to deal with. There will be those who say it will not help, because the ANC and EFF are in the same hat, but every act where the government does not fulfill its constitutional responsibility and it is addressed, only discredits the ANC government even more for the damage their policies are doing to this country.
The international community also takes note of this. That is why we must not lie down and every possible mechanism must be used to get a better distribution. Indeed, the current centralized order has already largely failed.
A letter was also addressed to the president, minister and commissioner of the SAPS on 10 March in which they were called to account for any damage that would result from the EFF’s threats and actions, since the safeguarding of the country’s sovereignty, its institutions, the economy and also the inhabitants are these entities’ constitutional duty.
The SAPS indeed nipped potential criminality in the bud on 20 March and recognition must be given for that. The prosecution of Julius Malema and the EFF is therefore now the case that can be watched.
