The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has issued a scathing statement condemning the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) for its presence at a peaceful protest held in Matatiele on 8 April 2025, where citizens were demanding justice for the rape of seven-year-old Cwecwe. The EFF alleges that the SANDF’s denial of its involvement is a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and silence rightful dissent.
The protest, attended by community members and schoolchildren, was sparked by growing outrage over the lack of justice in the Cwecwe case. The EFF maintains that the march was non-violent and focused on a national cause of significant importance. According to the party, the deployment of military personnel alongside police forces was not only unnecessary but unconstitutional and politically motivated.
The EFF accuses the state of using force to intimidate protestors, many of whom were young and vulnerable. The party claims this action was an effort to suppress legitimate grievances and violate the public’s constitutional right to protest.
The presence of the military was not only unnecessary, but it was also a threatening gesture meant to instil fear, – the statement reads.
The EFF has called on Parliament’s Speaker Thoko Didiza to urgently address the matter, questioning whether President Cyril Ramaphosa had formally authorised the SANDF’s deployment as required by Sections 201(2) and 201(3) of the Constitution. The party argues that failure to inform Parliament about the deployment breaches constitutional procedures and undermines the rule of law.
This government has already failed Cwecwe. Now, in a cowardly and unjustified act, it has deployed military force against peaceful citizens, – the EFF stated.
The party demands immediate answers and insists that the truth must be revealed. It reaffirmed its stance on transparency, justice, and accountability, stating it will not be silenced by intimidation or deceit.
