By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Malema said: “I am happy, SG [secretary-general], that the rally was organised during the week and during the day, we do not have to say anything.
“The international community must ask the question, ‘Why so many people during working hours?’ The answer is simple, they are unemployed, and there are no jobs because the government of the day has destroyed the economy of South Africa.”
The party’s birthday event at Marikana comes just days before the big celebration at FNB stadium on Saturday.
Malema said when he, EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu and the late Sindiso Magaqa had visited Marikana 11 years ago, some of the miners who survived the shooting asked them to form an alternative political party to the ANC, and they had heeded the call.
“Today, we are here to dance and celebrate so that the enemy looking at us from a distance must feel the chest pains. Because they said the EFF would not last, but we are still here 10 years down the line.”
Malema, Shivambu and Magaqa were part of the ANC Youth League then. Shivambu and Malema were later expelled from the party.
Malema said Marikana was the “spiritual home of the EFF”, and that the party celebrated its birthday at the Koppie to “remind them of the heartless atrocities they have committed on this beautiful land and left us with a permanent ugly scar”.
“Today is the actual birthday of the EFF, and we mark it here in Marikana Koppie through a traditional celebration. We have slaughtered more than 15 cows and made traditional beer as a practice of offering a sacrifice. We are in Marikana to thank the originators of the EFF’s life for all the blessings.”
He also used his speech to encourage EFF supporters to go out and vote in next year’s election.
“Next year when we vote, you must say my vote goes to Marikana, my vote goes to Mambush [Mgcini Noki, one of the miners who was killed], my vote goes against those who killed the people of Marikana.