THE EFF has donated R500 000 towards KZN flood victims but has insisted the money should not land in government hands.
Leader Julius Malema said the party would give the money to a church helping victims on the ground.
He made this announcement during a visit to KwaMamsuthu, in eThekwini, yesterday, 21 April.
During his visit, Malema interacted with survivors rebuilding their shacks. He told a woman who lost a loved one that the EFF was fighting for land so people could build themselves decent houses.
Malema, accompanied by treasurer Marshall Dlamini and provincial party leaders, handed over food parcels and blankets to 500 families.
After interacting with a pastor struggling to provide food to survivors, Dlamini said the party would bring more donations.
“We said to the pastor that we only brought blankets and some food parcels but we will bring more sponge mattresses for people sleeping here,” said Malema.
“We will donate that money to the soup kitchen. This money can’t be given to the government because they will steal it. We can’t make that mistake.”
Malema called on South Africans to donate to NGOs, churches and other groups helping people on the ground. He told victims the party would always be there for them.
He also used the opportunity to raise the issue of land, saying the building of shacks on river banks highlighted the need for expropriation of land without compensation.
“When we say that we want the land, there are people who say we want to destroy things. We don’t want to destroy anything, our people need a place to stay and the floods have demonstrated that indeed we need the land,” he said.
The IFP had also earlier donated R250 000 to Gift of the Givers.
