The Black First Land First (BLF) movement will consider a range of options at its upcoming special conference following its deregistration as a political party.
According to its discussion documents, BLF members will explore three options – dissolving the organisation and “going underground;” amending its constitution while maintaining its pro-black posture; or pursuing the first two options simultaneously.
The documents say the option of going underground may also include the possibility of an “armed struggle.”
‘People’s army’
“Taking up arms shall mean that the BLF is dissolved as an above-ground political organisation, goes underground and forms a people’s army,” the documents say.
The documents further suggest that BLF could still participate in electoral politics while having an “armed resistance wing” at the same time.
BLF members will consider these options at the organisation’s special policy conference slated for 30 November in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.
BLF is now officially deregistered as a political party after the Electoral Court dismissed its appeal on Monday.
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) deregistered it in July, but the decision was put on hold after it launched an appeal.
‘Black-only membership’
Section 16(1)(c) of the Electoral Commission Act bars the IEC from registering a political party that excludes membership on the basis of race, colour or ethnicity.
According to Article 4 of BLF’s constitution, membership was restricted to only black people.
Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) therefore brought an application to IEC to have the party deregistered.
In a statement on Tuesday, BLF slammed the Electoral Court’s decision to dismiss its appeal. It said the Court was “openly hostile biased against the BLF.”
It added, “Our movement has lost all trust in the entire justice system of this country. We shall not be subjecting ourselves to the kangaroo courts of white supremacy any further. We won’t appeal the decision of the Electoral Court.”