Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MP Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi has seemingly rubbished former President Nelson Mandela’s famous quote made at the Rivonia trial in 1964.
Facing the possibility of death penalty, Mandela bravely stated, “During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination.
“I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”
‘Blacks have never had power to dominate’
However, in a tweet on Tuesday, Ndlozi questioned Mandela’s statement that he had fought against black domination.
He wrote, “The man never had EFF to really ask him WHERE HAVE YOU SEEN BLACK DOMINATION THAT YOU HAD TO FIGHT AGAINST IT? Blacks have never had the power to dominate as BLACKS!”
Ndlozi’s tweet sparked an intense debate among South Africans on Twitter, drawing both agreement and disagreement.
Some, like @DOR_defender, agreed. He replied, “Absolutely Dr, blacks around the world and SA in particular have never had power to dominate anyone. Where was this black domination utata fought against?”
‘Mandela’s speech was correct’
However, the vast majority of respondents disagreed with Ndlozi, who has now been appointed as the head of EFF’s political education.
A fellow EFF member, @Mmaps_ThePro, replied, “My fellow fighter, I thought you knew about tribal dominations amongst Blacks. Mandela’s speech was correct.
“I suggest you go read about what Lucas Mangope used to do to Tsonga people living in the then called Bophuthatswana, today North West. The man did not see them as human.”
Others, like @MulugisiM, made their points at EFF’s expense, “Floyd and Julius looting VBS dry is a good example of black domination. The Venda gogos [elderly women] got totally dominated there.”
Xavier Bapoo added, “When @FloydShivambu bought a 700K Range Rover instead of providing a housing for South Africans.
“The @EFFSouthAfrica is the exact example of what black domination is and will always be a party that supports militant Black Domination.”