DELFT, CAPE TOWN – The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) took a combative stance against gender-based violence and organized crime during their Western Cape election manifesto launch held in Delft this weekend. Addressing a sea of supporters clad in signature red, party leader Julius Malema placed the escalating crisis of violence against women at the forefront of his campaign, characterizing the recent surge in killings as a “declaration of war.”
Malema’s remarks were heavily focused on the recent, alarming spike in female homicides in Ekurhuleni. “How do you kill 10 women in one week? That is a declaration of war,” Malema told the cheering crowd. He issued a stern directive to men, urging them to take responsibility for the societal rot that leads to such violence. “Men, stop killing women. Teach your children to embrace their sisters. Teach your children to love their mothers. When they love their mothers, they will never hate on any woman.”
The EFF leader expressed deep frustration with the state of public safety, demanding that those responsible for the recent Kempton Park killings be brought to justice without the possibility of release. “The killing of women is barbaric. Go out, help the police to find the perpetrators. We want them in prison, we don’t want bail for them, and we want them to rot in jail. They don’t belong to society,” he asserted.
Beyond gender-based violence, Malema pivoted to the scourge of drugs ravaging Cape Town’s communities. Promising a radical shift in law enforcement and local governance, he warned drug lords that an EFF-led administration would prioritize the dismantling of criminal syndicates operating in residential areas.
“Put us in charge in the metro and see what’s going to happen,” Malema challenged. “We are going to deal with all these things. Drug lords are here, and we will finish them off because we know who’s selling the drugs in Cape Town. We know every house that is selling drugs to our children. Give us power, and we’re going to fall into those houses.”
The manifesto launch also highlighted the party’s commitment to the arts sector. Amidst an electrifying performance by singer Thumeka, the EFF underscored its intention to invest in local talent, arguing that current municipal structures have neglected artists, leaving many to “die hungry.”
As the EFF intensifies its local government election campaign, the messaging from Delft suggests a dual focus: asserting strict, uncompromising authority on crime and violence, while positioning the party as a radical protector of the vulnerable and marginalized. With crime, gender-based violence, and the fight against drug networks serving as the pillars of their platform, the party is looking to capitalize on voter frustration in the Western Cape to secure a significant mandate at the polls.
Reporting by Mkhokheli Bandla
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