EFF Attacks Land Party Women

To: All media

From: Land Party Communications

Contact: landpartysa@gmail.com | https://www.landparty.org.za/contact | @LandPartySA | 067 627 6014

Date: 2019/04/05

Embargo: None

In a political debate held in Houtbay this morning, a group of EFF supporters maliciously and violently attacked members of the Land Party. The attack started with the EFF seemingly targeting four women in particular, stating that having white women in the Land Party made them the enemy of the EFF.

The horrifying scene played out just before the Land Party was about to speak for the first time in the debate. A cloud of red surrounded the Land Party supporters in the front row and started pushing, shoving and hitting them. Mandy Owens, Land Party National Spokesperson was hit in the face by an EFF supporter which sparked outrage from other members who tried to push the EFF group back. The EFF retaliated by picking up chairs and throwing them. Again, the blows and chairs were aimed at the women of the Land Party. Fatima Saaif, Land Party National Fundraiser has sustained injuries from being hit with a chair and Nathi Prins, Land Party National Administrator received a slap in the face while trying to protect themselves and other party members. In defence a few Land Party members were holding up chairs to deflect the chairs being thrown at them.

“It happened so quickly and was clearly an attempt to attack the Land Party’s racially diverse female leadership”, said Mandy Owens after the onslaught. Land Party Chief Leader, Gcobani Ndzongana said that “we received a report that it was well orchestrated and this matter was planned even before it happened because they were trying to prevent us from selling our policies to the public.”

The Land Party condemns political, racial and gender intolerance and is disgusted by the behaviour and actions of the EFF. We have opened cases of assault at the police station in Houtbay and we have launched a complaint with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to ensure that hooligans and misogynists do not have the opportunity to contest elections or have a say in how this country is run.

The thuggish and violent tactics of the EFF demonstrate a clear inability of that party to engage in intelligent debate and confirms a sad disrespect for women in general. The EFF have repeated these facile violent tactics whenever and wherever public debate has been called for. This is indicative of a fascist mob who do not have what it takes to govern a nation as diverse and politically astute as ours.

We call on the South African Public to weigh carefully in their minds this thuggish behavior when they cast their vote on 8 May 2019.

We call particularly on the women and forward thinking members of the EFF to recognize that the leadership of your party has no regard for the dignity and the intellectual ability of women and to reconsider your membership.

It is disingenuous for the EFF to claim that the violent assaults were conducted by agents provocateurs, when virtually the entire EFF contingent participated in this morning’s detestable activities. They have effectively disqualified themselves as contenders for a future government.

We salute the Land Party women who stood strong today. We are proud of you and we love you! Our women are here to stay and they are here to LEAD this party to victory!

#LandPartyWomenLead #Imbokodo