EFF Leader Malema: “We need a political solution to a political problem, not soldiers”
With Free Zuma protests turning into #ShutdownSouthAfrica President Cyril Ramaphosa had no option than to bring in soldiers to ease the situation.
This new development has brought about a debate if it was a good call or not. The ruling government has since recieved backlash from South Africans after failing to address the masses. Of late the government has been silent about the protests which took a fiery turn to spread across Mzansi from KwaZulu-Natal.
In the mix of things, EFF president Julius Malema has weighed into the matter. He has shared a series of tweets in regards to the matter.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has questioned the whereabouts of leaders of the ANC-led government amid the rise of sporadic riots in some parts of the country.
Malema’s comment comes as the country struggles to contain the violent protests in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) – which have spilt over to Gauteng. Over the past few days, protesters have been on a looting spree, destroying critical infrastructure as well as torching properties and vehicles.
EFF Leader Malema: “We need a political solution to a political problem, not soldiers”
The protests are alleged to be linked with the Zuma protests where his supporters want him to be released from prison after he was sentenced to 15 months in jail for being in contempt of court.
The call for the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to assist the police on the ground is intensifying but Malema says this should not be the first call.
“You can’t start with the SA Police Service or SANDF as the first call,” said Malema.
“The question should be: Where are the leaders to speak to their people? Are they scared of their people? And if the answer is yes, the next question should be: why are the leaders in the first place?”
However, in one of his recent tweets, Malema vowed to take part in the protests if soldiers take on unarmed civilians. Taking it to Twitter Malema had this to say.
Julius Sello Malema @Julius_S_Malema
No soldiers on our streets! Otherwise, we are joining. All fighters must be ready… they won’t kill us all. We need a political solution to a political problem, not soldiers.#NoToSoldiers
The tweet has since sparked a debate in regards to the deployment of soldiers. Was it the right call or there was a need for political engagement first before deployment?