Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema has asked residents of Ga-Rakgwatha village, outside Lebowakgomo in Limpopo, to vote for his party in an upcoming by-election.
Malema addressed a rally in the village ahead of Wednesday’s by-election for Lepelle Nkumpi Municipality’s ward 14.
Residents told Malema that they lack basic amenities, such as water and electricity, but the ANC dismissed the allegations.
Hundreds of EFF supporters were chanting as party leader, Julius Malema, made his way to the Ga-Rakgwatha stadium.
Many seized the opportunity to tell him about the conditions they live in.
Malema promised the packed stadium that he will work until all rural communities are developed.
“You see in Parliament we are fighting, when I get up they say I must sit down, I won’t sit down while people in Rakgwatha continue to suffer. While you do not have water, while you don’t have electricity, I will not sit down while the poor sleep on empty stomachs. I will continue fighting until you get a better life, until you have clinics.”
African National Congress branch chairperson, Lazzy Ledwaba, disputed allegations that residents of Rakgwatha do not have basic amenities.
“We are very confident because even the EFF rally was attended by people from outside and one other issue which we want to clarify about the issue of water, if you look behind there is a steal tank. It is not a project which we started now, we started when our councillor was still alive. It’s an on-going process so it’s not because there is no water, there is water but there are other households which the water cannot reach them.”
The by-election in the Lepelle Nkupi municipality follows the death of an ANC councillor.
