A SEA of red has occupied some of the stands at Orlando Stadium this morning as Economic Freedom Front members gathered for the launch of the party's election manifesto.
Whistles and vuvuzelas echoed through the stadium, as members dressed in red T-shirts and others in the party's characteristic red berets filled the stands opposite the stage.
They would all be addressed by party leader Julius Malema later.
EFF national chairperson Dali Mpofu said it was all systems go for the event.
"We were intending on opening the gate at 9[am], but we have had to open them now because people are already here. It even seems as others slept here," said Mpofu.
He said they were looking forward to participating in their first ever local government elections.
"The anticipation is great. What gives us great confidence is that the manifesto is a booklet that consolidates the views of the people which we have been collecting for the past few months."
Police Minister Nathi Nhleko recently announced that the Hawks would be investigating Malema's comments that the EFF would remove government "through the barrel of a gun".
Malema recently said in an interview with Al Jazeera: "We will run out of patience very soon and we will remove this government through the barrel of a gun. Yeah, literally. I mean it literally. We are not scared. We are not going to have a government that disrespects us."
