THE EFF has said its members will help President Jacob Zuma deliver his State of the Nation address on Thursday.
Speaking at the EFF’s Annual Plenum in Benoni, Ekurhuleni on Friday leader Julius Malema said: “Instead of just leaving him there speaking alone, we are going to share that time with him. Every time he turns a page, we are going to speak.” Last week, Malema was the centre of controversy after he banned journalists from ANN7 and The New Age from attending EFF events as both news outlets are owned by the Gupta family. When asked about the condemnation many journalists had for his statement, Malema said: “Well, I think it was deliberately misinterpreted in defence of the Guptas.
“The journalists are welcome at EFF events but only when they are coming in their personal capacity. Those are our brothers and sisters and I said in the press conference that I love them. I don’t know how love can turn into hate.”
- Last week, The New Age and ANN7 editor-in-chief Moegsien Williams said: “All freedom-loving democrats in SA should condemn the leader of the EFF for his utterances and threats against staff of the The New Age and ANN7.”
He was referring to a comment Malema made about not being able to guarantee the safety of his reporters at EFF events.
- Sanef’s Adriaan Basson said: “It is not acceptable for any political party to intimidate journalists and to publicly state they cannot guarantee their safety.”
