LAND EXPROPRIATION WITHOUT COMPENSATION @KASIBCNEWS

Today, we gather here in the historic township of Sharpeville, a place that carries the blood of our ancestors, the pain of our past, and the resilience of our struggle. We do not come here to commemorate a so-called "Human Rights Day," but to remember and honour the sacrifice of those who fell on March 21, 1960, at the hands of a murderous apartheid regime. 

We call it Sharpeville Massacre Day because it is a day of struggle and sacrifice, and not a day where opportunists and racist should be allowed to hijack this day to claim that it represents their Human Rights which have been violated. We call it Sharpeville Massacre Day, because to call it anything else is to undermine the memory of those who gave their lives in the struggle against white domination, and it will allow history to be distorted. 

It was on this day that thousands of Black South Africans took to the streets in defiance of the oppressive pass laws imposed by the apartheid government. These laws were not just pieces of paper; they were chains that bound our people to poverty, oppression, and state-sanctioned violence. Led by the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), our people courageously stood against injustice, demanding an end to the pass laws that restricted their movement in their own land. But instead of being met with dialogue, they were met with bullets. 

Sharpeville was not just a massacre; it was a declaration of war by the apartheid regime against the Black majority. It was a moment that exposed the true brutality of white minority rule to the entire world. 

The cowardice of the Apartheid regime meant that unarmed and peaceful Africans were shot in the back as they tried to flee, their bodies riddled with bullets, their dreams cut short by a government that saw black lives as disposable. The passbook—known as the dompas—was the physical embodiment of apartheid’s brutality and inhumanity. 

It was a document of oppression, designed to control and dehumanise Black people in their own land. This small book dictated where a Black person could live, where they could work, and even when they could move. It was not just a piece of paper, it was a weapon of humiliation, a daily reminder that, in the eyes of the white supremacist state, Black people were not human beings but subjects to be controlled, to be policed, restricted, and punished at will. 

It was the tool that kept our people, in townships with no running water or electricity, while white suburbs flourished with stolen wealth. Today, white supremacists do not need a dompass to undermine our human rights, because even 30-years after democracy, African remain in poverty, living in shacks without water, electricity or dignity We are told to move on from the crimes of Apartheid, yet the reality of Apartheid remains the same, because a white life in this country is worth more than a black life. 

The worth of a white life on South Africa means so much, that when there is a death of a white person due to crime that affects all of us, it is called a white genocide, because whenever a white person dies the whole world must pay attention. Fellow Fighters we must refuse the idea that a black life is so cheap, that even our history of sacrifice and resistance can be changed to massage the conscience of our oppressors. 

Our people were massacred by the Apartheid regime today, and the human rights of Africans have not been changed ever since those Africans were killed here in Sharpeville in 1960. Our lives remain cheap, our dignity remains undermined, and we are still disrespected by white supremacy that insists that white people must be comfortable at the expense of black people, and when white people are not comfortable, then black people must be punished with sanctions and isolation. 

We must ask this ruling government, why do we not tell those who seek to sanction us for fighting for our land that it was Nelson Mandela’s dream that South Africa should be equal? Why do we not remind the international community that loves Nelson Mandela so much, that Nelson Mandela did not stand for reconciliation only, but he believed that the land and wealth of South Africa must be shared and for this, he started an armed struggle because the white Apartheid regime did not listen to peaceful means. 

Why does this government not tell the USA that when racists refused equality, Nelson Mandela said they must be confronted with arms, and that today we are better, because we are confronting racists with legislation and the Constitution to expropriate land without compensation? The approach of this government, which seeks to plead with imperialism is cowardice and succumbing to white domination and can never be accepted as diplomacy. 

The USA is not interested in diplomacy, the USA is interested in dominance over us by any means necessary and we must stand up and fight for ourselves because we represent a historical mission, and that mission is the return of the land. 

On Prosecution Of Apartheid Crimes Comrades we gather here at Dlomo Dam, while our nation faces a global pressure to protect the rights of a white minority, while at the same time, African people have never known peace and have never known justice. Not a single army general, policeman or station commander was ever prosecuted for the Sharpeville Massacre. 

Not a single soldier, not a single police officer was ever arrested or prosecuted for the murder of kids during the June 16 Uprisings. Yet today, we are told the whole of South Africa must be sanctioned because white people are victims of crime like the rest of us, and because we dare stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine and demand the return of the land which belongs to us. Comrades, it is for the first time in our history as a democratic nation, that South Africa faces the threats of sanctions and economic isolation, and that is because the white minority which controls the land and the wealth fears equality. 

Where was the USA, when our mothers were fed to pigs in Limpopo by white farmers? Where was the USA with its sanctions, when Eugene Terreblanche was raping young boys on his farm, before they resisted and killed the racist because no one would act against him? 

Where were the sanctions of America, when a child was shot by a white farmer in the Northern Cape, for picking a flower on his farm, and we were told that this child was mistaken for a monkey? Where was the international community, when racists at the University of Free State fed our mothers who were domestic workers human waste? Why were our people who were stuffed into a coffin alive in Mpumalanga not offered refugee status? Comrades, what does the USA have to say about the murderers of Vlakplaas, who roam our society today freely and have never accounted for their crimes? 

Where is the International Criminal Court, to prosecute Wouter Basson, Dr Death, who used chemical warfare and medicine to poison and kill anti-Apartheid activists? Wouter Basson, who committed these human rights violations is sitting comfortably here in South Africa, while victims of his biological warfare which violated human rights suffered the consequences and never saw justice. 

How can we be expected to reconcile with those who have never acknowledged these crimes and were never held accountable for them? How can we be asked to share our land, our resources, and our future with those who still believe that Orania and a Volkstaat are their birthright in Africa, while the mass graves of our people are ignored? 

 These are people who have never appreciated with how they came to enjoy their wealth and power; people who still see us as servants, as labourers, as a conquered people; people who did not even consider themselves African until it Where were the sanctions of America, when a child was shot by a white farmer in the Northern Cape, for picking a flower on his farm, and we were told that this child was mistaken for a monkey? 

Where was the international community, when racists at the University of Free State fed our mothers who were domestic workers human waste? Why were our people who were stuffed into a coffin alive in Mpumalanga not offered refugee status?  Comrades, what does the USA have to say about the murderers of Vlakplaas, who roam our society today freely and have never accounted for their crimes? 

Where is the International Criminal Court, to prosecute Wouter Basson, Dr Death, who used chemical warfare and medicine to poison and kill anti-Apartheid activists?  Wouter Basson, who committed these human rights violations is sitting comfortably here in South Africa, while victims of his biological warfare which violated human rights suffered the consequences and never saw justice. How can we be expected to reconcile with those who have never acknowledged these crimes and were never held accountable for them? 

How can we be asked to share our land, our resources, and our future with those who still believe that Orania and a Volkstaat are their birthright in Africa, while the mass graves of our people are ignored?  These are people who have never appreciated with how they came to enjoy their wealth and power; people who still see us as servants, as labourers, as a conquered people; people who did not ebecame convenient to do so to claim indigeneity to our land after calling themselves European for centuries. Before 1994, our compatriots did not consider themselves as Africans and knew that they were Europeans who had acquired land through theft and conquest. 

Today, we are told that we are violating property rights, when we demand our land from people who called themselves Europeans just 30-years ago. Those who stole our land must face the truth, that they acquired land through theft and genocide. Let them explain to us how they can still feel entitled to our land when they have never acknowledged the rivers of blood that were spilled to build their world. Let the ANC explain how they can claim to represent Black people while aligning themselves with our former oppressors, selling out the legacy of our martyrs for parliamentary seats and empty slogans of "reconciliation" with those who still believe they are superior to us. We refuse to forget. 

 Our ancestors are watching. The waters of this Dlomo dam remember the blood that fell on this day, and we will ensure that their sacrifices are never erased. We demand prosecution of Apartheid crimes, and that must be where the USA begins its investigations of genocide and violations of human rights. ven consider themselves African until it On Geo-Politics and International Solidarity Comrades, the apartheid regime in South Africa did not fall on its own, it was forced to its knees by the unbreakable resistance of the people and the relentless pressure of the international community. 

Nations across the world took a stand against the racist state by imposing trade sanctions, diplomatic isolation, and sporting boycotts that crippled the apartheid economy and exposed its brutality to the world. It was a Pan-African struggle, supported by our fellow African nations who understood that the oppression of one African nation was an attack on the entire continent. 

These nations sacrificed their own security, stability, and resources to assist in the fight for our liberation. Zambia, under the leadership of Kenneth Kaunda, became a frontline state for the liberation movements, providing a safe haven for exiled ANC and PAC members. The country allowed the ANC to establish its headquarters in Lusaka, offering logistical and financial support despite constant threats and military attacks from the apartheid regime.

 Zimbabwe, following its independence in 1980, played a crucial role in supporting South African liberation fighters, offering training camps, military aid, and political backing in international forums. Mozambique, under Samora Machel, gave direct military support to the ANC's armed wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe, and allowed freedom fighters to use Mozambican territory for training and strategic operations.

 Mozambique suffered attacks from the South African Defence Force as a result, yet it never stopped its commitment to the anti-apartheid struggle. Tanzania, under Julius Nyerere, provided training facilities, refuge, and ideological guidance to the liberation movements. Nyerere was a strong advocate of African unity and used his influence to mobilise support for sanctions against the apartheid regime. 

Angola, with the support of Cuba, offered military training camps and armed resistance against the South African Defence Force. Cuba, led by Fidel Castro, sent thousands of troops to Angola to fight against the South African military, weakening the apartheid state's hold on the region. Nigeria imposed an oil embargo on apartheid South Africa and used its diplomatic influence to push for global sanctions. 

Successive Nigerian governments provided scholarships for South African students and financial assistance to liberation movements. Several countries took decisive action by cutting off trade with apartheid South Africa, refusing to engage economically with a regime that oppressed and murdered Black people. 

The United Nations first called for an arms embargo in 1963, but it was only in 1977 that it became mandatory. As pressure mounted, individual nations took their own bold steps: Sweden, Norway, and Denmark were among the first to completely halt trade and investments with South Africa, setting a moral standard for the rest of the world

India was the first country to cut diplomatic ties with South Africa in 1946 and consistently pushed for international isolation of the apartheid state. Canada, Australia, and New Zealand imposed sanctions on trade, investment, and travel against South African officials and businesses in the 1980s. 

The European Economic Community (EEC) (now the EU) imposed a ban on new investments in 1986 and restricted trade with South Africa. These economic restrictions hit the apartheid government where it hurt most, causing severe damage to industries and forcing white business owners to reckon with the reality that apartheid was unsustainable. One of the most powerful tools used against apartheid South Africa was its expulsion from the global sporting community. For a nation that took pride in its sports, this was a devastating blow to its international image. 

South Africa was banned in soccer, in rugby and in cricket, and teams of nations opposed to Apartheid, and their athletes refused to compete with teams representing Apartheid South Africa. These international sanctions, alongside the armed resistance and internal uprisings led by the liberation movements, created an unbearable pressure that apartheid could not withstand. 

It is for this reason comrades that we are so adamant on our position to support the people of Palestine, and call for boycotts and sanctions against the Apartheid Israeli state which is committing a genocide. It is because our nation itself is a product of international solidarity. 

The question we must ask is where was Israel and the USA which seeks to call us a nation that commits human rights violations today, when the world turned its back on Apartheid South Africa? We must never forget those who resisted sanctions, those who continued to trade with and arm the apartheid regime. 

The United States, the United Kingdom under Margaret Thatcher, and Israel were among the worst offenders, actively supporting the apartheid regime. Let us never forget that the USA classified our freedom fighters as terrorists. The US did not just support apartheid with words, it armed and funded the regime. During the Cold War, America saw the racist apartheid government as a strategic ally against communism, choosing to back white supremacy over justice. 

 The CIA assisted in the capture of Nelson Mandela in 1962, handing him over to the apartheid regime. Washington ensured that South Africa’s economy remained functional, allowing companies like General Motors, IBM, and Coca-Cola to continue doing business while Black South Africans suffered under the boot of oppression. 

Comrades the USA sold weapons to the apartheid government, helped them develop nuclear technology, and even gave intelligence to the South African military, which it used to target anti-apartheid activists. 

 The American government’s policies mirrored its own history of racial oppression, from the slaughter of Indigenous Americans, slavery and the Jim Crow era to the present-day mass incarceration of Black people. Just as the USA armed the South African apartheid regime, they now fund Israel’s genocide against Palestinians, ensuring that another racist settler-colonial state can continue its domination. Let us be clear: the fight against apartheid is not over. 

The United States and the Western world have never stopped their imperialist agenda. They may have been forced to abandon apartheid South Africa, but they have simply shifted their methods. They use economic policies, military interventions, and propaganda to maintain the oppression of Black people globally. 

From the coup in Libya, which destroyed a prosperous African nation, to the war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan, to the exploitation of African resources through neo-colonial institutions, America continues to be the biggest enemy of Black liberation. We must, therefore, remember who stood with us and who stood against us. The United States did not fight apartheid—they defended it. And today, they continue to defend injustice across the world. 

That is why we must stand in solidarity with Palestine, Sudan, DRC, Haiti and all oppressed people. Because the struggle against apartheid was never just about South Africa—it was and still is a global fight against white supremacy, imperialism, and the exploitation of Black people everywhere. Today, we must take these lessons forward. Just as the world boycotted apartheid South Africa, we must stand in total solidarity with Palestine. As we reflect on the lessons of history, from the struggle against apartheid to the current global resistance against imperialism, we must also look forward. 

The time has come for us to break free from Western dominance and carve out a new world order—one that prioritises the Global South, and Africa in particular. For too long, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and much of the Western world have dictated the terms of global politics and economics. 

They have pillaged our resources, dictated our policies, devalued our currencies, and subjected us to their unjust systems of control. Even today, these same nations continue their imperialist tendencies, particularly in the Middle East, where they fund and orchestrate wars, coups, and destruction— all in the pursuit of oil, strategic dominance, and the maintenance of their global hegemony. 

Their foreign policies are steeped in racism and neocolonialism, and they continue to use economic coercion, military intervention, and diplomatic pressure to control Africa and the rest of the Global South.  

They dictate who can trade with whom, who is allowed to develop, and who must remain trapped in cycles of poverty and dependence. But we say: No more! We must strengthen trade relations with China, Russia, Venezuela, and all nations that oppose Western hegemony. 

We have within our grasp the power to elevate Africa and strengthen the Global South by standing together and prioritising trade and movement among ourselves. No longer must we rely on the West for validation or economic survival. We have the resources, the people, and the potential to build a self-sustaining economic powerhouse right here on our continent. 

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is one of the greatest tools we have at our disposal. By fully embracing and implementing this agreement, we can: Expand intra-African trade, reducing dependence on former colonial powers; and strengthen regional value chains, ensuring that Africa benefits from its own resources rather than exporting raw materials only to import finished products at exorbitant prices. We can also improve infrastructure and connectivity across the continent, making it easier for goods, services, and people to move freely; and enhance Africa’s bargaining power on the global stage, allowing us to negotiate as a bloc rather than as fragmented states subjected to Western pressure. 

This is our moment to elevate Africa, to finally reject the economic stranglehold of the West and foster strong, independent, and sovereign economies that serve the interests of our people, not foreign investors. Just as we resist Western imperialism in Africa, we must continue to resist it wherever it manifests, especially in the Middle East.

 South Africa must remain steadfast in its fight for Palestine at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). We must ensure that Israel is held accountable for its crimes, just as apartheid South Africa was brought to its knees through international pressure. The world once denied the brutality of apartheid in South Africa, just as they now try to whitewash the genocide in Gaza. However, history will not be kind to those who stood on the side of oppression. 

One day, just as we did, and do so now at Dlomo Dam, the people of Palestine will stand on the banks of rivers of bloodshed and begin a path to healing in their own homeland. They will reclaim their stolen land, rebuild their society, and walk as free people in a world that finally recognises their humanity. We must continue to fight, to resist, and to build a future free from oppression, where Africa is no longer at the mercy of Western imperialism but stand as equal and powerful forces on the global stage. On Russia and Ukraine Fighters, we must be clear: the war between Russia and Ukraine is not just about those two nations, it is about global power, imperialism, and the continued  manipulation of the world by Western forces, particularly the United States and NATO. 

The EFF stands firmly against Western hypocrisy. We have seen how the West, led by the USA, has provoked conflicts across the world—whether in the Middle East, Africa, or now in Eastern Europe. They speak of democracy, but they undermine it whenever it does not serve their interests. NATO has expanded aggressively, violating agreements made with Russia decades ago, and now they act surprised when Russia responds. Ukraine, under Zelenskyy must refuse to continue to be used in this ruthless game as a pawn. 

They should never have sought to join NATO and this has become clearer as those who encouraged and egged him on to put up a fight against Russia are now embarrassing him in front of the world. Zelenskyy has compromised the stability of his people and entire country, and now has to capitulate to ridiculous demands of mineral wealth for his country to continue in this war. 

When they attack Russia, they are attacking a long-time ally of the African liberation struggle as Russia stood with us when the West armed apartheid. We reject the current sanctions and criminalisation of Russia. We condemn these double standards in international politics when Russia has simply been defending itself against NATO’s imperialism. On Sudan 

Fighters, we must never turn a blind eye to the suffering of our African brothers and sisters in Sudan. What is happening there is not just a civil war, it is now a humanitarian crisis of catastrophic levels fuelled by external interference and a failure of African leadership to take decisive action. The power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has turned cities into war zones, displaced millions, and left countless civilians to die from violence, starvation, and disease. 

The EFF condemns the silence of the African Union (AU), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and the international community. We cannot allow another Libya or another Congo, where African countries are left in perpetual conflict while Western powers exploit their resources. We know that Sudan is rich in oil, gold, and other minerals, this is why external forces are fuelling division instead of supporting peace. We call for an African-led peace process, one that finally serves the interests of the people of Sudan. 

We demand an end to foreign meddling, humanitarian aid for those suffering, and accountability for warlords who use the blood of Africans to secure their own power. On Mozambique In light of the recent events in Mozambique, it has become a clear case of a former liberation movement that refuses to accept change and listen to the voices of their people.  

Despite an election process that was not free and fair, and the people of Mozambique rising against this theft of their votes, the government continued to counter them with violence, killing opposition leaders, and leading to the temporary exile of the main opposition party leader, Venancio Mondlane. We are pleased that Mondlane is able to return to his homeland and encourage dialogue and peace moving forward. 

The EFF is unashamedly aligned with progressives such as Mondlane in Mozambique who represent change and the future. The age of former liberation movements in SADC is coming to an end, as young people and opposition parties rise up to speak truth to power and advocate for a change in status quo. These movements must desist from violent tactics, and repressing freedom of speech and protest when they have lost popular support and accept when the winds of change arrive at their shores. On Domestic Politics Comrades, latest unemployment statistics confirm what we already know that the crisis of joblessness in South Africa is a disaster created by the DA-ANC coalition. 

The so-called decrease of 0.2% in the unemployment rate is meaningless when millions remain in poverty. Black people, especially Black women, are the ones suffering the most. 35.8% of Black Africans are unemployed, and Black African women face an even higher rate of 38%. 

At the same time, 111,000 more people have stopped looking for jobs altogether, bringing discouraged job seekers to 3.5 million. This is not progress; this is economic collapse. The expanded unemployment rate remains at a staggering 41.9%. Some provinces are in an even worse condition: North West, Eastern Cape, and Mpumalanga have unemployment rates above 47%. Economic opportunities are being limited to certain regions, leaving the rest of the country to suffer in deep poverty. 

The most critical industries: agriculture, mining, construction, and trade are losing jobs instead of creating them. Meanwhile, the government has no plan to revive these key industries. This is the result of a government that has abandoned job creation and handed over the economy to the private sector. Young people are the biggest victims of this crisis, with 39.4% of those aged 2534 unemployed. 

The DA-ANC coalition has no vision for the future, offering young people no jobs, no skills development, and no access to meaningful education. We cannot allow another generation to be wasted by a failed government. South Africa needs a radical shift towards state-led industrialisation and mass job creation. The EFF has the only real plan to revive the economy, which includes: 

Land expropriation without compensation to ensure productive use of land for employment and economic growth. State-owned banks and enterprises to drive economic inclusion and investment in key sectors. Free, decolonised education to equip young people with skills for the future economy. Massive investment in infrastructure development to create jobs and build the economy. 

The South African economy also remains deeply racialised, white unemployment is at just 6.7%, while Black people suffer extreme poverty. This is not by accident; it is a deliberate design of a system that keeps Black people poor and white people benefiting from privilege. 

The EFF rejects this illusion of progress and calls for urgent measures to transform the economy. When it comes to crime, we must note that the National Sex Offender Registry was meant to be made public at the end of February, but once again, the government has delayed justice. More than 32,500 convicted sex offenders are listed, including people who work with children on a daily basis, yet the government still refuses to make their identities public. Instead of prioritising the safety of women and children, they hide behind bureaucratic excuses, claiming they need a legislative review. How many more women must suffer while the government drags its feet? 

South Africa is one of the most dangerous places in the world for women and children. Every day, at least 116 women report being raped and these are just the ones who manage to report. Almost 11 women are murdered daily, many by intimate partners. This is a country at war with its women, where perpetrators roam freely without fear of consequences. 

The EFF has long demanded that the registry be made fully public so that communities know who the offenders are. Additionally, we advocate for the creation of a National Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) Offender Registry to track and expose all perpetrators of violence against women and children. The people have a right to know who among them are rapists and abusers. 

The ANC-led government has failed to protect the most vulnerable. The EFF stands with the victims of GBV and will continue fighting until women and children are safe in South Africa. Fighters, we need to address a grave injustice unfolding within our nation's law enforcement: a calculated attack on Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, the KwaZulu-Natal police chief, whose dedicated commitment to combating crime is being met with unwarranted scrutiny. Lieutenant-General Mkhwanazi has been at the forefront of aggressively disrupting crime syndicates, murderers, robbers and more in KwaZulu-Natal. His directed pursuit of justice has made him a target for those who wish to maintain the status quo of corruption and criminality. 

Recent developments have seen the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) initiating a probe into Mkhwanazi, alleging interference in the arrest of a senior prison official implicated in drug trafficking. However, IPID has since backtracked, admitting errors in their initial claims, and Minister Senzo Mchunu has refuted lodging any complaint against Mkhwanazi. 

The Economic Freedom Fighters have consistently highlighted the extreme nature of drug trafficking, racketeering, and other organised crimes in our nation. We have long asserted that the ANC's reluctance to tackle these issues head-on indicates deep-seated involvement of politicians in these illicit activities. Under former Police Minister Bheki Cele's leadership, there was a notable lack of decisive action against crime syndicates. Cele's tenure was filled with controversies, including allegations of involvement in unlawful behaviour and associations with questionable figures. These controversies raise concerns about the integrity of our law enforcement leadership and their commitment to eradicating crime. 

The targeting of Lieutenant-General Mkhwanazi is a dark reminder of the challenges faced by those who dare to confront entrenched criminal networks. It is imperative that we, as a nation, stand in solidarity with ethical leaders who prioritise the safety and well-being of our communities over personal gain. We call upon all South Africans to remain vigilant, to support leaders like Lieutenant-General Mkhwanazi, and to hold those in power accountable for their actions. 

On The Maintenance Act Fighters, we gather here today to reaffirm a fundamental truth: every child has the right to be cared for, to be supported, and to be raised with dignity. This right is not up for debate. It is the duty of both parents, not just mothers, not just women, but both parents, to ensure that their children are provided for. Yet, in South Africa today, too many men continue to abandon their responsibilities, leaving mothers to struggle alone, while they live their lives without consequence. 

We must make it clear fathers must take care of their children. We have a Maintenance Act in place, a law that demands that every parent provides for their child financially. Yet, every day, women flood maintenance courts across the country, begging for men to do what is right. They stand in long queues, humiliated, forced to fight for what should already be given: the basic support needed to raise their children. We must ask ourselves: why must women carry this burden alone? 

The reality is that South Africa is a country where too many women are forced to lead households on their own. 42% of all homes in this country are female-headed. In provinces like the Eastern Cape, it is nearly 50%, half of all homes. This means that half of the children in that province are growing up without the full financial and emotional support of both parents. As it stands, women have been deliberately marginalised and pushed to the economic periphery. Black women in particular have the highest levels of unemployment, the lowest wages, and the fewest opportunities. Yet still, they are expected to single-handedly provide for their children. Where are the men? 

Why must women chase men through the courts just to get what is owed? Why must children go hungry while their fathers walk free, spending money on alcohol, on expensive clothes, on entertainment, while their own children suffer? The maintenance system in this country is broken. Women should not have to beg for what is rightfully theirs. They should not have to take off work to go to court, to plead with a system that does not take them seriously. 

The EFF has long called for an improved child maintenance system, that simply begins with the full implementation of the Maintenance Act. One that prioritises single mothers and holds delinquent fathers accountable. We must enforce the strict enforcement measures for maintenance defaulters, including garnishing wages automatically instead of waiting for courts to issue orders. We must also put an end to the delays and inefficiencies that force women to return to court again and again. 

This means that the Maintenance Act must be followed religiously, bureaucratic processes must be adhered to timely, and mothers must be supported thoroughly. We must also prosecute fathers who refuse to pay, just as we prosecute any other crime. Fighters, let us commit to fighting for the dignity of every child, for the protection of every mother, and for a South Africa where no father is allowed to run from his responsibility. Let every man who hears this message today ask himself: "Am I doing my part?" Because if the answer is no, then you must fix it today. 

On Bela Act and Expropriation Act Comrades, when it comes to the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act, which is now law, and we must ensure its full and immediate implementation. This is despite the constant calls by white supremacist empty boxes who are holding onto this as some form of reverse discrimination against them. For too long, racist School Governing Bodies (SGBs) have manipulated policies to exclude Black learners, using language, particularly Afrikaans, and admission rules as a barrier to access quality education. This Act gives provincial education departments the power to end these racist practices and ensure that school policies respect the cultural and religious beliefs of all learners. We are not blind to the fact that white Afrikaners are panicking because they can no longer discriminate against Black children under the guise of school autonomy. 

They know that their days of using Afrikaans as a weapon of exclusion are numbered. We will not allow delays to undermine this progress. The ANC and DA coalition is deliberately stalling, postponing guidelines for implementation and public consultations. 

As the EFF, we will fight to ensure that this law is enforced immediately, and that no child is ever denied access to education based on race, language, or culture. We call on all our leaders and public representatives to actively engage with schools and communities to hold the government accountable for delivering education that is truly inclusive and decolonised. Fighters, today we must expose the deception of the ANC government, which has once again failed the people of South Africa with the so-called Expropriation Act. 

President Cyril Ramaphosa has assented to this bill, and they want us to believe it is a step towards land justice. But we must be clear: this bill is nothing more than a legislative scam designed to mislead our people. It does not represent a radical departure from the past, it merely aligns our expropriation laws with the 1996 Constitution, which has always prioritised the interests of landowners over the dispossessed masses. 

The Expropriation Act is rooted in Section 25 of the Constitution, which remains a pro-landowner clause that guarantees compensation for stolen land. The ANC and its handlers want to fool us into believing that expropriation without compensation is possible within the existing constitutional framework, yet even the Supreme Court of Appeals has rejected such an absurd interpretation. This law only allows for expropriation at nil compensation in cases where land is abandoned, used for speculation, or poses health risks, land that has no real value. This will not dismantle the historical injustice of land dispossession; it will only perpetuate the status quo, where white landowners continue to enjoy constitutional protections. 

The EFF rejects this cowardly Act. The only way to resolve the land question is through amending Section 25 of the Constitution to allow for the expropriation of all land without compensation and to place it under State custodianship. We will not be fooled by this empty gesture. Instead, we will soon table new, radical legislative proposals in Parliament to truly address the land crisis and return the land to its rightful owners, the people of South Africa! 

On VAT The EFF decidedly rejects the proposed 0.5% VAT increase in 2025/26 and another 0.5% in 2026/27. This is exactly what we predicted, that the government first floated an outrageous 2% increase, and after public backlash, they are now attempting to sneak in a 1% increase over two years: a dishonest and manipulative strategy. A VAT increase is a direct attack on the poor and middle class, as it raises the cost of essential goods and services. South Africans are already struggling with high unemployment, rising food prices, and unaffordable electricity.

Increasing VAT will only deepen poverty and economic hardship. This is not a real solution for revenue generation, but a desperate attempt to force ordinary citizens to pay for government failures. This is why we are calling on all MPs and opposition parties to work together and use the Money Bills Amendment Procedures and Related Matters Act, 2009 to amend the proposed fiscal framework. If Parliament is serious about protecting the people, it must reject this VAT increase and fight against austerity. It is clear that the Minister of Finance is protecting big business while squeezing the poor. In 2022, corporate income tax was reduced, despite the fact that South 

African companies already pay less tax than the global average. Instead of increasing VAT, the government should focus on stopping corporate tax evasion and illicit financial flows. Billions are lost every year through profit shifting and base erosion, yet the Minister refuses to hold big businesses accountable. Even the SARS Commissioner agrees that increasing VAT has not and will not lead to a sustainable increase in revenue. 

The EFF has been calling for 10 years to capacitate SARS to go after tax dodgers and illicit financial flows. If the government was serious about increasing revenue, they would focus on taxing the rich and strengthening SARS, not punishing the poor. The EFF calls on all South Africans to reject this VAT increase. Furthermore, the government is sitting on over R88 billion worth of unclaimed pension benefits that could be used to boost the budget, invest in state entities and public infrastructure, and stimulate the economy, rather than continuing to demand money from already overtaxed public. 

We urge civil society, trade unions, and academic institutions to come together and resist this dangerous policy. We must stand in solidarity against a government that prioritises white capital over the needs of the people. 

On DRC and Rwanda The EFF welcomes the decision to withdraw SADC forces from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This means all our soldiers stationed in the DRC will be coming home and that will be the end of our so-called peacekeeping mission. This decision is long overdue, and the EFF has been vindicated after several calls we have made to withdraw these troops as the deployment was ill-conceived and unsustainable from the start. 

We have consistently stated that South African troops were ill-equipped for this mission, and the loss of soldiers, especially the 14 South African troops killed in January, has proven this. As the withdrawal process begins, we urge the government to ensure the safe return of our soldiers and prioritise their well-being after this difficult deployment. 

We cannot ignore that the situation in Eastern DRC has worsened, with the M23 rebels, backed by the Rwanda government, capturing essential cities such as Goma and Bukavu and blocking vital humanitarian routes. This mission has failed to bring stability, and instead, our troops were left exposed and vulnerable. The reality is that military intervention alone cannot resolve this crisis. A lasting solution requires a political process driven by African nations, not foreign interests. 

While we acknowledge ongoing diplomatic efforts, we must be cautious of the intentions of regional leaders. Both Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Félix Tshisekedi of the DRC were recently seen holding talks in Qatar when they should be continuing to engage directly with fellow African nations through SADC, East African Community (EAC) or the African Union (AU). Why Qatar? We all know Qatar has deep interests in the region’s gold reserves and other natural resources.

This raises concerns about whether these talks are truly about peace or simply about controlling who profits from the wealth of the DRC. The EFF calls on SADC, the East African Community (EAC), and the African Union (AU) to remain vigilant and not allow the people of the DRC to be used as pawns in geopolitical games. Any peace talks must prioritise the interests of the Congolese people, not foreign investors or power-hungry elites. The African continent must take charge of its own peace and security without external interference. As to the South African National Defence Force, all the money set aside for this failed mission must now be redirected towards strengthening South Africa’s defence capabilities.

Our military must be better equipped and better prepared to defend our country and for future peacekeeping missions, only when they are strategic, well-planned, and in the best interest of our nation. South Africa must not be used as a disposable tool in conflicts that are driven by economic interests rather than genuine peace efforts, which our continent desperately needs. 

On Organisational Rebuilding and the Vanguard Party Comrades, we must always remember that we are building a vanguard party that must lead South Africa, Africa and the world to liberation and that requires us to appreciate the ideas of Lenin, which are that a revolution must be organized and led principally by the working class It is Lenin who teaches us that a revolutionary vanguard party, recruited from the working class, should lead the political campaign because only in that way would the proletariat successfully realise their revolution. 

The revolution will not be spontaneous, the revolution and liberation of the working class requires a principled movement to unite the working class around the ideas of socialism, and this means the revolution cannot be led through political tourism and pursued by any organization at any particular point in time. The basic requirement is that there must be an appreciation of class consciousness, internal democracy and we must all be professional revolutionaries The role of a vanguard party is to elevate the consciousness of our people towards revolution and organize our people through democratically elected structures chosen by the people. 

The EFF comrades is that vanguard party which is at the forefront of the liberation of our people, and we remain that vehicle to the destruction of capitalism Our responsibility now as professional revolutionaries is to adhere to the resolutions which will make this vanguard party of the poor a strong weapon to attain Economic Freedom In Our Lifetime. We must build our organization from the basic unit which is the branch and ensure all of our branches meet the criteria to be in good standing, and this means they must have a minimum of 200 members.  

This begins with all EFF Public Representatives, it is your branches that must have a minimum of 200 branches because if you are true people’s representatives, then we will see this through the existence of your own branches and their compliance with the resolutions of the highest decision making body of our movement, which instructed all of us to belong to strong branches All EFF Public Representatives must belong to a branch in good standing, and failure to do so means you must be recalled, because whose interests do you represent if not those of a branch? Let us be discipline in building a genuine movement of the poor, not an organisation to pursue personal interests or one that relies on the feelings of individuals Comrades and Fighters, the minimum program we have adopted as the organizing force and vanguard party of the left is that we must pursue our revolution on the picket lines. 

The Year of the Picket Lines is a call to return to our revolutionary character, which demands us to confront white monopoly capital and demand that the wealth of this country be shared, and that the interests of the poor become a priority Let us head to the streets and confront capital, let us organize ourselves to protect the vulnerable. The Year of the picket lines means we must not only confront the state for failure to delivery services, but we must confront the mines for existing without benefiting the people, we must confront the banks for exploiting the poor through predatory loans and banking charges, we must challenge the manufacturing and steel industry for retrenching our workers and we must confront racists for abusing our people in the corporate sector  

We have defended our movement and adopted a program of action towards total liberation and victory, and the victory of our people depends on the strength of the EFF as the most competent and organized liberation movement. 

Victory begins with service delivery, victory begin with fighting the capitalist power structure and economic freedom depends on us uniting behind the principle of a strong organization 

 Let us march forward together and in honour of the fallen heroes before us, and head to the Picket Lines, whether we face sanctions, isolation or death History Will Absolve Us! Hasta La Victoria Siempre!