Already there are talks this could lead to chaos, following remarks by its leader Julius Sello Malema, that the EFF will remove the government “through the barrel of a gun”‚ if it responded violently to the EFF’s peaceful protests.”
Despondency and questions have been asked whether the launch will be used to galvanise support for the movement or intended to cause chaos, among others.
Political analyst at Unisa Professor Dirk Kotzé‚ says if Malema made radical statements to the South African public‚ he risked alienating himself from potential voters.
“In the 2014 national and provincial elections‚ a lot of support for the EFF in the Free State came from Congress of the People [Cope] supporters. These are people who are looking for a political home outside the ANC.”
Despite all this, it appears thousands of supporters are expected to be clad in their full red regalia at the stadium that will have presence of uniformed and un-uniformed police in and around.
Malema and his entire senior members will address their followers.
The party is contesting local government elections for the first time.
In the 2014 national elections, the EFF got 25 seats in Parliament, making it the third largest party in the country.
It begins from 10am.