Top 10 Interesting Quotes By Julius Malema From EFF’s Manifesto Launch

Julius Malema‘s revolution is not only being televised, it is becoming a fashion statement and a badge of defiance. Over the weekend, the leader of South Africa’s opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party launched his party’s campaign for the upcoming local elections, promising to rescue citizens from poverty, unemployment and corrupt government.

As thousands of EFF supporters in their distinctive T-shirts filled the stadium, what was apparent was that South Africa has entered a new political era. Malema delivered a manifesto that cut through all the political bullshit and speaks to the ordinary South African and, as always, he did it with his no-holds-barred way. Here are the 10 quotes that stood out.

1.  Telling President Jacob Zuma to leave office:

“I am whispering to you, Zuma, wherever you are, those soldiers are going to turn their guns against you… leave office before the soldiers turn against you. The army is EFF.”

2. The EFF’s position on violence:

“We are not provoking violence.  We are the most peaceful organisation. We fight in Parliament.  We fight in court…we will never start any violence.  We will never… [aim] guns at innocent people.  But anyone who comes with violence and thinks that they can intimidate with violence – we will defend ourselves… We are not scared of war; neither are we scared of violence.”

3. On Police Minister Nathi Nhleko recent announcement that the Hawks would investigate Malema’s comments that the EFF would remove the government “through the barrel of a gun”:

“I only speak the truth to power… Since when is the truth treason? Anyone who wants to arrest me here, I am here. You can arrest me now.”

4. On the guiding principles behind the party’s local election manifesto:

 “This is not a Malema manifesto, but a people’s one, filled with their demands.”

5. On one of the reasons why proper housing is needed:

“I want the parents to touch each other without the disturbance of the children. I want you to reproduce…we want you to be a proper family with a proper roof.”

6.  A comparison between a good councillor and a bad one:

“A councillor of the EFF must love reading. You must read everything… A councillor can’t get drunk and pee on the side of the street in front of children.”

7. On priorities for municipalities:

“[The] EFF government will not build bicycle lanes as long as people still live in shacks…We want to build houses and roads before bicycle lanes. Let’s get our priorities straight. Let the rich be patient while we give services to the poor.”

8. On the EFF’s position as an alarm clock in Parliament:

“I am happy to report to you that Parliament is no longer a sleeping place… They used to sleep in Parliament, but we have woken them up… Even [President Jacob] Zuma used to sleep in Parliament, but today the old man is always awake because there is no bed of roses for Zuma in Parliament.”

9. Medical advice for State Security Minister David Mahlobo:

“You don’t look healthy and a body that is not healthy cannot have a healthy mind.  Go look after that stomach… That stomach is hiding everything… You are a small boy… You are an intelligence minister who is not intelligent.”

10. On his party’s perception that the upcoming elections is really only a two-horse race:

“Everyone else is wasting time… [the] ANC failed to fill Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. We have beaten them. We are contesting against the ANC and no one else. Not any other Mickey Mouse party. Bring it on, we are ready for you. We are not scared of you.”