FF Plus lays criminal charges against EFF following damage to Paul Kruger statue
The FF Plus laid a criminal charge this morning at the Brooklyn Police station in Pretoria against the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), the EFF's spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi and its deputy chairperson in Tshwane, Moafrika Mabongwana.
Adv. Anton Alberts, FF Plus MP and provincial leader in Gauteng submitted the charges.
According to Adv. Alberts, the relevant EFF members had incited people to either deface or break down "colonial statues which are reminders of apartheid" and according to Adv. Alberts it directly resulted in the malicious damaging of Paul Kruger's statue on Church Square. The EFF later accepted responsibility for the incident.
Various other monuments were also damaged over the weekend and the FF Plus will also be laying charges in the areas where it had taken place.
Adv. Alberts says the complaint is based on the breaching of the National Heritage resources Act (case no.: CAS 138/04/2015).
"It is important that the legislative framework which protects cultural goods and heritages is applied to firmly halt criminal behaviour which the EFF had displayed. The EFF must accept that it functions within a constitutional democracy and is not above the law.
"Paul Kruger was the first republican anti-colonialist who fought against British colonialism and imperialism in Africa. He also played a positive role in the history of the Royal Bafokeng which is today recognised as the wealthiest tribe in Africa.
"It is a historical fact that Kruger had been the one who had warned Lobengula, the Matabele chief against Rhodes' plans for Lobengula's land, today known as Zimbabwe, by sending him a message which read: ‘Do not give your land to them, keep it for your children'.
"History cannot be changed by distorting facts to suite a specific political agenda. The EFF must bear the consequences of its reckless contempt for the law," Adv. Alberts said.
Statement issued by Adv. Anton Alberts, FF Plus MP and provincial leader in Gauteng, April 7 2015
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