Jacob Zuma poses for a picture with BLF officials. Let’s not forget that actually happened – Photo: Zanele Lwana / Twitter
Jacob Zuma poses for a picture with BLF officials. Let’s not forget that actually happened – Photo: Zanele Lwana / Twitter
The Black First Land First (BLF) forray into the world of government has come crashing down to earth on Tuesday, after the Electoral Court deregistered the group as a political party. The move came following extreme political pressure from several opponents, and a legal case lead by the Freedom Front Plus.
How many people voted for the BLF in 2019?
Despite their public profile – largely generated by harassing journalists and making grossly offensive statements – their ill-fated 2019 Election campaign ended on a whimper. They failed to crack the 20 000 votes mark, and didn’t even finish inside the top 15 of political parties.
Their bid to secure a seat in Parliament fell short. In July, the party appealed a decision to have them deregistered. But they were officially ruled unsuccessful this week.
How are they taking the news, we hear you say? You won’t be surprised to hear that the organisation are spitting feathers. They labelled the Electoral Commission as a “kangaroo court”, blaming white supremacy for their downfall. The BLF plan to regroup and plot a way forward at the end of the month.
“BLF will not make task of banning us from the poltical arena easy. This is war! Let historical record reflect that BLF was the first movement to be banned since the rise of majority rule. Let the record reflect the banning order was imposed on BLF on instigation of a right-wing.”
“BLF has been deregistered by the Electoral Commission of South Africa (ECSA) on the demand of the racist extreme right-wing Freedom Front Plus. We expected this outcome. BLF will be holding a Special Policy Conference on the 30th of November in Durban to chart way forward.”
Black First Land First statement
The controversial group also confirmed they would not be opposing the decision, either:
We shall not be subjecting ourselves to the kangaroo courts of white supremacy any further. We won’t appeal the decision of the Electoral Court.
— Black First Land First (BLF) (@BLF_SouthAfrica) November 5, 2019
BLF is aware that the entire white establishment is terrified of the black agenda that we represent.
Why the BLF have been deregistered as a political party
The political reaction has been one of glee – if not relief – from the opposition parties in South Africa. The Freedom Front Plus, who brought the legal action against the BLF, claimed this was a victory “for the whole country”. Leader Pieter Groenewald confirmed that the policy of excluding any potential white members proved crucial in the court’s decision to bar them from political activity.
“The BLF repeatedly made it clear that white people may not become members. It was declared thus under oath and was also reiterated in various media interviews. Leader Andile Mngxitama had previously confirmed the BLF’s constitution excludes white people based on race.”
“The deregistration of the BLF is a victory for the whole of South Africa because racialism and intolerance, as was incited and encouraged by Mngxitama and his supporters, will not be tolerated. It’s a victory for law and order, but it is still disturbing that the IEC violated the law by registering them in the first place.”
Freedom Front Plus statement from Pieter Groenewald
“No place for those who stoke hatred”
These sentiments were echoed by DA representative Mike Moriarty. He slammed the BLF for “dividing” South Africans and called them for the promotions of “vicious hatred”.
“Since its inception the BLF has caused division amongst South Africans as its constitution stated that only black people can be members of their party. The Electoral Act is clear that incitement to violence and stoking of racial hatred is prohibited. There is no place in this country for those who promote vicious hatred.”
Mike Moriarty, DA
