Latest news with #VATVictoryMarch
News24
20-05-2025
- Business
- News24
‘Where are the farms?' – Malema slams white genocide claims by emigrating Afrikaners
Malema challenges Afrikaner 'farmers' who fled SA to the US, demanding proof of land they allegedly abandoned. EFF celebrates VAT victory, credits legal and parliamentary pressure for blocking government's tax hike. Ramaphosa accused of bowing to US pressure, with Malema warning against backtracking on policies like land expropriation and the ICJ case against Israel. EFF leader Julius Malema says if the 49 Afrikaners who left the country for the USA over the alleged genocide they claim is happening in South Africa are real farmers, then where is the list of the farms left behind by those who emigrated to America? Malema made these remarks in Pretoria, where the party was leading a VAT victory march to the National Treasury. Thousands of marchers took part in the demonstration on Monday afternoon, painting the country's capital city red. BREAK TIME! EFF marchers take a quick rest at a crossroad, with leaders including Julius Malema, Godrich Gardee, and Marshall Dlamini seated, still holding strong with their placards #VATVictoryMarch #EFF @City_Press — Wendy Manjeya (@manjeya_wendy) May 19, 2025 Malema said the march was meant to celebrate what he described as a 'victory' in opposing the value-added tax (VAT) increase. The party claims its pressure on Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana played a role in the decision to reverse the tax hike. EFF supporters, dressed in their red outfits, sang struggle songs with joy at the Union Buildings to celebrate the cancelled VAT increase. They then marched to the National Treasury. The mood was lively, and people looked happy to avoid the extra tax burden. The #EFF 's #VATVictoryMarch is underway. The party's leadership, including Julius Malema, Deputy President Godrich Gardee and Secretary General Marshall Dlamini, are leading the march from the Union Buildings to Treasury. @City_Press — Wendy Manjeya (@manjeya_wendy) May 19, 2025 Buses transported EFF members from nearby townships to the Union Buildings, where the march was set to commence. The EFF demonstration came just two days before the 2025 national budget is set to be tabled in the National Assembly on Wednesday. Budget 3.0 follows two ultimately unsuccessful attempts to pass a budget earlier this year. The first tabling in February was cancelled due to disagreements among government of national unity (GNU) partners over a proposed two-percentage-point VAT increase. A revised budget was introduced in March by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, proposing two VAT increases of 0.5 percentage points each, to be implemented over two financial years. However, the Western Cape High Court suspended the implementation following a legal challenge by the EFF and DA, prompting the need for a new budget. Godongwana is now expected to present the 2025 Fiscal Framework and Revenue Proposals, alongside the Appropriation Bill and Division of Revenue Bill. The EFF is framing Monday's march as a celebration of what it calls a successful effort to block the VAT hike both in Parliament and in court. The court granted an interim interdict last month, halting the first VAT increase. The EFF and DA argued that the hike would worsen the cost-of-living crisis, especially for low-income households, and further drive up food prices. Although Parliament approved the fiscal framework with 194 votes backed by the ANC, IFP, Patriotic Alliance, Rise Mzansi, and others the EFF maintains the process was unconstitutional and failed to follow proper procedure. Meanwhile, former USA president Donald Trump claimed that Afrikaners are being persecuted in South Africa because of their race, and are facing a 'genocide'. The group flew to the US on a special relocation plan and will be allowed to settle there. 'Nothing looked like a farmer among those people, they looked like those car attendants in the parkings,' Malema said. We want to see those 49 farms, and if you do not show us, you must know that you can't be talking about white people leaving, because that is pure lies. 'They are leaving, where were they staying?' Malema asked, adding that the addresses of where they were staying must be revealed. He said people must stop believing in nonsense. This march also comes as President Cyril Ramaphosa left the country this weekend to meet USA President Donald Trump in what his government describes as an attempt to 'reset' the relationship between the two countries. Trump and his billionaire ally, South African-born Elon Musk, have severely criticised the Ramaphosa administration's alleged poor treatment of white people in South Africa, following Ramaphosa's signing into law of an Expropriation Bill. The law, signed in January, allows the government to confiscate land, in some instances, without compensation, for redistribution to marginalised groups such as women and people with disabilities. Some Afrikaner groups say the law could allow their land to be redistributed to some of the country's black majority. Trump has highlighted allegations by a group of white South Africans who fear that their land will be seized. This group also says white farmers face a disproportionate number of violent assaults, which have led to several deaths and amount to a 'genocide'. The South African government has denied there is a genocide and says the attacks are part of a broader crime problem. According to Malema, Ramaphosa only went to the USA because 'he likes things'. He thinks it's nice in America. They will teach him a lesson there because those people know that there is no white people that is being killed here in SA. 'They know that very well, but they use it to make us change our policies, one of the policies which makes America hate us so much is that we took Israel to an International Court of Justice because they were killing Palestinians.' 'They [USA] will tell Ramaphosa that they can hear that he says he does not kill people, so go and withdraw the case at the ICJ, then we'll come to G20.' He said they will also tell Ramaphosa to change policy on the NHI and BELA Act.
The Citizen
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Road closures, traffic disruptions as protest rages in Diepkloof
The JMPD has urged motorists to be aware of the ongoing traffic disruptions. Protestors have barricaded the road with rocks and burning tyres. Picture: X/@Takatso_Moloi As the new working week begins, road closures and traffic disruptions are occurring in Diepkloof, Johannesburg. The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) has urged motorists to be aware of the ongoing traffic disruptions caused by protest action at the Diepkloof Interchange in Diepkloof on Monday. Traffic delays JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla warned that severe traffic delays are being experienced and are expected to worsen in the vicinity of the Diepkloof Interchange and surrounding areas due to ongoing road closures. The following roads are closed: N12 Eastbound and Westbound at the split with the N1. N1 Northbound and Southbound at the split with the N12 'Dangerous driving conditions persist near the Diepkloof Interchange due to vehicles making U-turns and travelling against the flow of traffic. Exercise extreme caution in this area.' ALSO READ: Get your blankets out: Cold front to hit Gauteng, emergency services on high alert Looting Fihla said the JMPD is attending to reports of protests, and there are further reports of truck looting. 'Motorists are strongly advised to avoid the Diepkloof Interchange completely. Consider using alternative routes such as Rand Show Road and Golden Highway to avoid the Diepkloof Interchange. 'Please note that these alternative routes are also likely to experience increased traffic volume and delays. Plan your journey accordingly and allow for extra travel time,' Fihla said. ⚠️ALERT : #ProtestAction on the N1 at the Diepkloof Interchange in Soweto. ⛔ Road closed with rocks and burning tyres 🔥. Morning peak time #JHBTraffic will be impacted.#TrafficAlert. — 𝕋ℍ𝔼 𝕋ℝ𝔸ℕ𝕊ℙ𝕆ℝ𝕋 𝔾𝕌𝕐 – 𝕏 🇿🇦 (@Takatso_Moloi) May 19, 2025 EFF VAT march Meanwhile, the EFF is expected to hold will what it calls 'a VAT victory march' in Pretoria on Monday morning. The march is set to begin at the Union Buildings and proceed to the National Treasury. It takes place a day before Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana tables his third Budget for this year in Cape Town, Western Cape. 'This marks a decisive victory for the people of South Africa, particularly the poor, the working class, and the unemployed, who would have borne the heaviest burden of such an unjust measure. Having defeated the VAT hike, we now intensify the struggle against student debt and austerity,' the EFF said. ♦️1 Day To Go ♦️ On 19 May 2025, the EFF will lead the #VATVictoryMarch to the National Treasury in celebration of the people's victory against the anti-poor, proposed VAT increase. This marks a decisive victory for the people of South Africa—particularly the poor, the working… May 18, 2025 Streets affected Streets that will be affected by the march include Stanza Bopape, Madiba, Paul Kruger and Lilian Ngoyi. Motorists have been urged to exercise caution and use alternate routes. ALSO READ: EFF to march to Kleinfontein: These roads will be affected
