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Bloemfontein — Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) leader, Julius Malema, attended a church service at Christian Revival Church in Bloemfontein yesterday, telling congregants politicians should never sway from the church. “It’s important that politicians keep a close relationship with the church,” Malema told the congregation.
These days some schools started without prayer, not like the old days when prayer was important, Malema said. The EFF leader said the church would play a central role when the party took over Mangaung after the elections. Malema was happily welcomed and blessed with a prayer by senior pastor of the CRC, At Boshoff.
The church should pray for peace during the upcoming elections on August 3, Malema said, adding that people should not be forced to vote for a certain political party.
He was accompanied by deputy president of the EFF, Floyd Shivambu, and its spokesperson, Mbuyiseni Ndlozi. Meanwhile, the ANC’s leadership descended on Pietermaritzburg as the party’s provincial manifesto launch got under way yesterday.
President Jacob Zuma received a resounding welcome when he arrived at the Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg. Surrounded by his protectors, Zuma went on a short walkabout to greet the crowd, thought to number more than 40,000.
Zuma was accompanied by several Cabinet ministers and NEC members including Bheki Cele, Jeff Radebe, Siyabonga Cwele, Jackson Mthembu, Bathabile Dlamini and Zweli Mkhize.
ANC supporters mocked a Hindu leader who offered prayers during the opening of the event. While the religious leader was praying, they laughed and made disparaging comments.
The election manifesto is being launched amid high tensions in the province. Several ANC members have been killed, including four in Pietermaritzburg, in what is believed to be politically motivated killings in the province. The party’s election list process is said to be at the centre of the spate of murders. — AFP
Online Reporter