Malema tells demolition-threatened villagers the EFF will put ‘land in your hands’

EFF leader Julius Malema was on the campaign trail in the Eastern Cape on Wednesday, visiting, among other places, a village where homes were demolished over alleged illegal land occupation, and promised homeowners “land into your hands”.

For many years, homeowners in Buffalo City’s Bhongweni Village, near King Phalo Airport, have faced threats of eviction and, in some instances, demolition of their housing structures by authorities who accuse them of illegally occupying the land.

“The EFF wants you to get title deeds,” Malema told homeowner Brenda Fuba, 68, during the door-to-door campaign in the village.

This thing of you getting threatened with evictions is not right, because the legislation states that eviction authorities must find alternative land for the affected people.

Malema claimed that when the EFF gets into power in Buffalo City, Bhongweni residents would be afforded land of their own.

We will never allow authorities to demolish your houses without following the law. They must give you alternative land. Public Works is government. You can never be removed by government from this land, because you are already here. The government must just transfer the land into your hands. We want you to have electricity, water and good roads.