Media statement: The Nelson Mandela Foundation meets Economic Freedom Fighters
Date: 26 November 2018
From: Nelson Mandela Foundation
Today, leadership representatives of the Nelson Mandela Foundation (the Foundation) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) met to discuss matters of mutual interest. The meeting was requested by the Foundation and was informed by the special challenges confronting any society in the lead-up to a national election. This was the second such meeting between the two organisations.
The Foundation is meeting the EFF as part of its engagements with civil society, political parties and key institutions ahead of the 2019 general elections.
Reflecting on the engagement, the Foundation’s Chairman, Njabulo Ndebele, said, “Our discussion was robust and constructive. We are concerned about how public discourse can brutalise people and undermine democratic processes if the bounds of respect and dignity are not observed.
“The Foundation is troubled that South Africa is a violent society. Such violence can be expressed in both physical and in spoken forms.
“We are concerned therefore that in an election such as the one that is coming, an atmosphere of peace should prevail,” concluded Prof. Ndebele.
The EFF welcomed the encounter and noted the role the Foundation has to play to ensure the vision of Madiba, of peace and democracy, is never compromised.
EFF Commander-in-Chief (CIC) Julius Malema said, “We appreciate the initiative by the Nelson Mandela Foundation to interact with us as the EFF, and hope there will still be many more to come.”
The two organisations have committed to continuing engagement.
ENDS
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