Riot police in KwaZulu-Natal fired rubber bullets and deployed stun grenades on Thursday to disperse a group of EFF protesters attempting to storm the Umhlathuze Municipality offices.
EFF rioters shot with rubber bullets in fiery clashes
The protests turned chaotic as EFF members clashed with security forces, leading to the destruction of property and scuffles with municipal guards.
The demonstration stems from the EFF’s demands for the immediate removal of three of their councillors, who were expelled in 2023 for failing to secure buses to transport members to the party’s 10th-anniversary rally at FNB Stadium.
Despite being recalled, the councillors remain in office, and the municipality has refused to declare their seats vacant, citing ongoing legal proceedings.
EFF members, led by provincial chairperson Mongezi Twala, gathered outside the municipality’s offices, accusing the city’s leadership of deliberately misleading the public and violating democratic principles.
Attempts to force entry into the municipal building escalated tensions, prompting riot police to intervene with crowd-control measures.
What the debacle is about
According to EFF provincial chairperson Mongezi Twala, the municipality’s refusal to act on the removal of the councillors undermines democracy and enables factional politics.
“This misrepresentation was a calculated move to secure a council majority with the assistance of the expelled councillors in direct violation of democratic principles,” said Twala.
Twala accused the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), which leads the municipality, of fostering undemocratic practices.
“The council has become a playground for egos and factional politics, betraying the trust of its people,” he added.
The EFF’s ultimate demand is for the municipality to declare three of its six council seats vacant, aligning with the party’s internal disciplinary rulings.
Twala vowed the party would continue its action until their demands were met.
In response, Acting City Manager Phakama Mhlongo assured the public that security measures were in place.
“Everything is under control,” Mhlongo said, while confirming the municipality was monitoring the situation closely.