The EFF is not done with Brackenfell yet.
The party has given Brackenfell High School exactly seven days to punish “racist” staff and school governing body members.
They also warned they will do a door-to-door search to find the beret which was snatched from the head of Luvuyo Ntakana during a protest two weeks ago.
On Friday, as many as 2000 EFF members, some who flew in from upcountry, descended on Brackenfell to demonstrate against racism and an alleged whites-only private matric ball attended by pupils and teachers.
A white ou was arrested for incitement after he made his way to the front of the EFF’s stage in the middle of Frans Conradie Drive, and allegedly hurled racial slurs at the crowd while the party’s general secretary Marshall Dlamini was speaking.
Dlamini had told the crowd: “We are here to tell racist people that we will not tolerate such in South Africa.”
EFF members responded by beating and stomping on the man as he lay screaming on the ground.
He was rescued by the police a few minutes later before all hell broke loose.
Police called on the groups to disperse, which was met with resistance and cops unleashed rubber bullets, stun grenades, tear gas and water cannons onto the crowd.
Eight people were arrested for public violence after protesters threw rocks and sticks in retaliation at police officers and law enforcement.
Businesses were vandalised while a few vehicles were damaged in the chaos.
Police spokesperson FC van Wyk said: “One member of the public was injured after he attempted to disrupt the EFF protest. He was arrested on the scene on a charge of incitement and is also due in court in due course.
“Eight protesters were arrested on charges of public violence and they are due in court once they have been charged.
“As the protesters dispersed, they were throwing stones at all law enforcement agencies as well as businesses.
“Several SAPS, law enforcement vehicles, windows of businesses as well as private vehicles were damaged.”
The injured man said he doesn’t skrik virrie EFF: “I am willing to die for my country. What the EFF are saying and doing here is wrong.
“South Africa is for all who live in it regardless of race and culture. Both Afrikaans people and black people belong here, and I had to let them know that.”
The City of Cape Town says it will be taking civil action against the EFF for damages caused.
“Preliminary reports indicate a fire engine was torched, roads and traffic lights were damaged and a field was set alight by EFF protesters.
“Car dealership windows were smashed at the corner of Paradys and Old Paarl Road, with private vehicles damaged due to stoning and several shops looted,” said the City.
The EFF is not standing back, however, and want their rooi keppie.
Spokesperson Vuyani Pambo said: “We reiterate the call for the terrorist Johann Spies to return the beret of the EFF, or the EFF will conduct a door-to-door campaign in Brackenfell to retrieve our symbolic mark of resistance ourselves.”
But Brackenfell Ward councillor Rhynhardt Bresler said: “I heard about it in the previous incident, I believe there was a red beret taken. I don’t think it’s in Brackenfell at all.”
Premier Alan Winde said he was concerned the EFF flouted Covid-19 regulations.
“The total number of EFF members in attendance, over 2 000, also far exceeds the 500 members required for outside gatherings in terms of the regulations promulgated under the Disaster Management Ac,” he said.
velani.ludidi@inl.co.za
HOT PROPERTY: EFF vows to retrieve their red beret
FACE TO FACE: Over 2000 EFF mense protested in Brackenfell on Friday
Pictures by phando jikela (ana)
ANARCHY: Law enforcement dispersing the EFF protesters