Pretoria – The dress code for ministers will change when the Economic Freedom Fighters win the elections, leader Julius Malema said on Sunday.
He said when he goes to Parliament, he would be dressed in his red work suit and beret.
“They wear suits, that’s why they are lazy,” he said.
“They are servants, they are supposed to serve us. You can’t build an RDP [house] with a tie.”
He said even if he was to be inaugurated as president, he would wear the same attire.
Malema was addressing thousands of his supporters at the Lucas “Masterpieces” Moripe stadium in Atteridgeville, Pretoria during his party’s Tshela Thupa rally.
Supporters braved the heat to attend the party’s final push to urge voters to go to the polls. More than 30 000 people filled the stands and cheered when the EFF leader entered the venue.
Some people climbed on the perimeter fence to get a glimpse of him, risking injury in the process.
Malema appealed to South Africans to give his party five years in government.
“We don’t want 20 years in government, we are only asking for five years. If we don’t deliver, fire us. Show us the door and say we want hard workers.”
He said leaders in his party would never steal from government coffers, but would instead push for the upliftment of the poor.
“We will never take your hungry children’s money. When you take public funds, your taking money that is meant for ARVs for the sick,” he said.
There was too much money in the country, but those in power did not know what to do with it.
He spoke of mechanisms that would be implemented to curb wasteful expenditure and contribute to the increment of grants in the party’s manifesto.
Ministers and the president would also have to buy their own cars and houses, since they earned salaries.
“Like all civil servants, buy your own car, houses. Why should we buy politicians cars and houses while they work? The time of politicians being treated like royalty is over.”
Malema added his party would not enter into a coalition with any party after the election.
“If we lose, we are not going into coalition. We stand alone. Its either we win 50 percent or we are not involved.”
Malema said his party was not ready to work with any organisation and risk their mission being diluted, with EFF’s leaders not after positions.
“Ours is not about positions, but fighting the exploitation of our people. Even if we get one seat, we have won because we did not have one before,” he said.
Malema said the EFF was the future, they could not be wished away and the party would be in existence for the next 100 years.
“They can’t wish us away, the EFF is the future. Any future without EFF is suffering. The EFF is the solution to the problems you’re facing,” said Malema.
The general election takes place on Wednesday.-Sapa