(25 May 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Polokwane, South Africa – 25 May 2024
1. Various of Julius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), arriving at the stadium, greeting supporters
2. Wide of stage, Malema being handed microphone
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Julius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters:
"I am here to conclude the campaign of the EFF. I am here to say to you, we have run a good race. We are here today because we ran a very successful campaign. The ground forces of the EFF have made everybody aware that there is a child called the EFF, who must be given an opportunity to lead."
4. Wide EFF supporters listening to Malema
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Julius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters:
"Our victory on the 29th of May is a victory for the people of Palestine. We are going to vote to liberate the people of Palestine. Palestine shall be free if the EFF is the government of South Africa. The EFF is going to remove the Israeli embassy in South Africa."
6. Wide EFF supporters
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Julius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters:
"Now, the people of South Africa must decide if they want unemployment. They must decide if they want loadshedding. They must decide if they want to remain landless. The people of South Africa, it is now in your hands. We live here very proud that we did everything to make our generation very proud."
8. Wide EFF supporters running to stage at the end of Malema’s address
9. Various of Malema singing and dancing on stage
STORYLINE:
Thousands of Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) supporters gathered on Saturday at a stadium in Polokwane, South Africa for the party’s final election rally.
South Africa’s four main political parties have begun a final weekend of campaigning before a possibly pivotal election that could bring the country’s most important change in 30 years.
The far-left EFF is the third biggest party and is led by Julius Malema, a fiery former ANC youth leader.
Malema greeted his supporters during Saturday’s rally in Polokwane and thanked them for their support for what he said was a very successful campaign.
"We are here today because we ran a very successful campaign. The ground forces of the EFF have made everybody aware that there is a child called the EFF, who must be given an opportunity to lead.", Malema said.
Also addressing the war in Gaza, Malema said "Palestine shall be free If the EFF is the government of South Africa", and added that the EFF is planning to remove the Israeli embassy in South Africa if it wins the election.
The election effectively starts on Friday and Saturday, when South African citizens living overseas vote in embassies and foreign missions. The main election will be held on May 29 across all nine provinces. It will decide the makeup of both the national and provincial legislatures.
"Now, the people of South Africa must decide if they want unemployment. They must decide if they want loadshedding. They must decide if they want to remain landless. The people of South Africa, it is now in your hands" said Malema.
Unemployment and poverty stand out as the most pressing issues for the majority of people. While South Africa is regarded as Africa’s most advanced country, its contradictions are stark. It also has an unemployment rate of 32% — the highest in the world — and more than half of South Africans are living in poverty, according to the World Bank.
AP video by Nqobile Ntshangase
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