EFF chairman Julius Malema interacts with the media at Mponegele Primary School in Seshego after voting. (@EFFSouthAfrica/X Old Twitter)
- In Juju Valley, Limpopo province, large numbers of voters turned out to cast their ballots amid heavy police security.
- Two weeks ago, members of the ANC and EFFIn other wordss' each campaign.
- Everything you need to know about the 2024 general election on News24 Election Hub.
The 2024 general elections went ahead smoothly despite the Juju Valley in Limpopo being designated one of 24 high-risk areas by police.
The community was established nine years ago when residents began building huts.
Voters queued patiently outside the Spirit Wind International Ministries polling station in Juju Valley on Wednesday.
The area is known as an EFF stronghold, and there were tents belonging to both the EFF and ANC parties near the polling station.
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The EFF tent was bustling with residents checking their names before queuing, but on the ANC side News24 saw no supporters.
Resident Aubrey Molir said he voted for the EFF because they provided his family with land to build an informal settlement.
“The EFF has given us five wells. The ruling ANC has ignored us. They don't recognise us. The government is prioritising other settlements over us. We are being excluded from services because we are members of the EFF,” he added.
Molir also complained that children in Juju Valley still have to walk long distances to get to school.
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Machoene Komape said residents needed a range of services including electricity, water, a clinic and a school.
Komape added that there was less crime in Juju Valley thanks to voluntary night-time patrols.
Johannes Mansiwe, wearing a white shirt with a yellow floral tie and his EFF membership card hanging from his shirt, hoped his vote would bring change to Juju Valley.
“There is very little development here, which shows that some politicians have little interest in Juju Valley,” he said.
EFF vs. ANC
Juju Valley was in the news two weeks ago when members of the EFF and ANC clashed during their respective election campaigns.
As ANC members arrived, the EFF organised a football tournament.
A physical altercation ensued between the two groups, leaving a 25-year-old man and a 9-year-old girl wounded in gunfire.
Both were taken to hospital, where the 25-year-old has since been released but the 9-year-old remains hospitalized.
Also see | Police are “closely monitoring Juju Valley and Seshego” – Limpopo Police Commissioner
Former EFF and now ANC member Josey Butane has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder of a 25-year-old man.
Police have yet to arrest the person who shot the 9-year-old boy.
Limpopo provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, said several firearms had been seized in connection with the incident.
There was a heavy police presence in Juju Valley on Wednesday.
Malema speaks
EFF leader Julius Malema addressed the media at Mponegele Primary School and called for political tolerance.
He said the incident was perpetrated by attention-seeking individuals whose only purpose was to cause provocation.
“Today is [wounded] “A child remains in intensive care because some idiots tried to start an unnecessary fight. They were very stupid. They fired a gun when they didn't have a gun licence. People like this should not be accepted in society,” Malema said.
He added that South Africa is a peaceful country with political tolerance.
“We have co-existed with the ANC for 10 years. There is no violence between us. The question is what has changed and what is the cause of the problem,” Malema said.
