EFF CALLS FOR THE OPENING OF POLITICAL SPACE IN SOUTH AFRICA

Sunday, 21 February 2021

The EFF calls for the re-opening of political space in South Africa. The re-opening will entail that all political parties are allowed to hold political gatherings, physically attend Municipal Councils, Legislatures and Parliament. This should happen with strict compliance to the necessary health protocols to avoid the spread of the coronavirus. It is now almost 12 months since South African political spaces have been restricted whilst government officials continue to engage in programmes that necessitate closer oversight and scrutiny.

Many workplaces in South Africa, including huge factories and mines are presently re-opened and many even have larger number of people, so it is irrational to continue shutting down the political space. We therefore demand that all political spaces be reopened so that we can engage in programmes and activities that will hold government accountable.

While we are currently engaging in a process to postpone the 2021 Local Government Elections and synchronisation of all elections, it appears that our country will go to elections before the end of November 2021. To disallow political programmes and activities is therefore undemocratic and irrational because political parties are not allowed to prepare for elections freely and fairly. Denying political parties to freely campaign for elections is unconstitutional and violates the essence of a democratic order.

We will write to the State President to demand the immediate reopening of the political space so that we are all allowed to engage in the necessary political programmes and activities to challenge the status quo. Refusal to do so will necessitate that we take additional steps including approaching the Courts to challenge the Constitutionality of closing the political space while many people are gathering in workplaces, malls, restaurants, and religious gatherings. We will do so because denying people the right to democratically challenge the sitting government is an affront to the Constitution and democratic order.