INANDA - The battle for political space in KwaZulu-Natal is heating up and this time, Maskandi is in the mix.
The EFF’s manifesto launch in Inanda has collided with a Maskandi event planned for the same area.
But EFF Secretary-General Marshall Dlamini is brushing off talk of no-go areas.
He said the party will campaign wherever it chooses as it works to rebuild support lost in 2024.
"There's no law that restricts me to be anywhere, so all is well. The rally is happening there, and while here I can be anywhere. The president is in Mthatha now, so there's no restriction of us being anywhere.
“I've decided to come here just to check because there's no one who's going to tell us that there's a no-go area of EFF in KZN. So when we were told that no fighters are not allowed to come here, I thought let me come and check this no-go area and test it, so we're fine. We've got candidates all over on all the wards of KZN.
“They were campaigning freely and nicely in KZN. We are rebuilding what we suffered in the 2024 election, so all is well, and the rally is part of that rebuilding program. That is why we are here in KZN, just to make sure that there's no issues, everyone else can campaign freely, and that's what we're doing."
Meanwhile, Ngizwe Mchunu is hosting a free entry maskanda concert about 4km away.
Mchunu has wasted no time calling out the EFF leader. He accused Malema of never saying anything worthwhile about KZN, saying he's merely using this as an opportunity to sway the masses.
“The events are not similar. We’ve not gone to their event, we’ve respected it. I will not allow Malema to disrespect the people of KwaZulu-Natal.
“He’s similar to someone sending a 'view once' message. He comes here once in a blue moon then disappears. He’s never said anything worthy about KZN.
“His statements are something else, he’s asking for unity when people are in the country illegally. Women have died in Ekurhuleni and there’s been no leads.
Malema is in favour of illegal immigrants so that they can commit crime freely.”