Siphokazi Vuso|Published
A Cape Town civic dialogue meant to tackle housing, land restitution and gang violence descended into a political dispute after the EFF walked out over what it said was Cape Forum’s involvement and association with AfriForum.
The EFF in the Western Cape has defended its walkout from a Cape Town mayoral and civic dialogue, accusing the event of providing a platform for what it described as AfriForum and Cape Forum’s “racist, white supremacist and pro-apartheid agenda”.
The dispute followed the The Beyond the Ballot: Mayoral Civic and Dialogue , hosted by Cape Flats Stories and The Bridge SA Movement at the University of the Western Cape on Sunday. The event focused on housing, land restitution, gender-based violence, gang violence and spatial inequality.
Why the EFF walked out
The dialogue was intended to address housing, land restitution, gender-based violence, gang violence and spatial inequality.
EFF provincial chairperson Unathi Ntame said the party’s provincial treasurer, Aishah Cassiem, and other members walked out because they refused to legitimise what the party described as a platform advancing a racist, white supremacist and pro-apartheid agenda.
"The organisers concealed AfriForum/Cape Forum's involvement. When confronted, they claimed a distinction that does not exist," he said.
Ntame also took issue with the presence of Cape Forum material promoting “growing federalism” on notepads distributed at the event.
"Cape Forum's materials promote 'growing federalism,' and the slogan 'plaas die Kaap se toekoms in Kaapse hande': [place the Cape's future in Cape hands], also appeared on notepads distributed at the UWC meeting," he said,
Ntame accused the DA of maintaining an association with the entities.
“The DA’s role must be stated plainly. While DA leaders have publicly said they ‘do not believe’ in full Western Cape independence and ‘will not go that route’, the party has maintained a documented pattern of association with these entities,” he said.
“Cape independence organisations themselves note that a majority of their supporters historically vote DA and continue to lobby the DA to call a referendum on independence, precisely because of the DA’s federalist and devolution agenda,” he said.
Organisers reject the allegations
Tarryn-Lee Bell, founder and director of The Bridge SA Movement, said she had acknowledged and apologised for an oversight involving Cape Forum-branded stationery.
Bell, however, said organisers had offered to accommodate the party’s concerns, including removing a Cape Forum banner from the foyer.
She rejected claims that the organisers were advancing a racist agenda, challenging the EFF to substantiate its allegations.
"There was no attempt to conceal this information. When they indicated that they would not participate, we respected their decision. Despite indicating their intention to withdraw, they remained at the venue. There was mobilisation outside the auditorium, and concerns were raised regarding alleged profanity directed at administrative staff," she said.
"The representatives subsequently returned to the auditorium, remained while the civic voices made their contributions, and then publicly walked out. This raises a legitimate question: If the decision to withdraw had already been made, what purpose did returning to the auditorium serve?
"A democratic right to protest does not place political conduct beyond scrutiny. I do not believe that disruption or disrespect towards administrative personnel should be celebrated as revolutionary action," she said.
EFF calls for an apology
AfriForum referred questions to Cape Forum.
Cape Forum executive chairperson Heindrich Wyngaard defended the organisation’s involvement at the dialogue, saying its association with AfriForum had been transparent since Cape Forum’s establishment in 2022.
“We’re playing a watchdog role about party politics, but we are not associated with any political party, and we have no intention to become involved in party politics,” Wyngaard said.
He said Cape Forum supported the dialogue because communities deserved access to politicians who are seeking their votes.
"We supported this event to showcase Cape Forum's commitment to free speech, and the importance of giving communities access to politicians and an opportunity for them to engage with these politicians who are vying for their votes on the 4th of November," he said.
Wyngaard said the decision for the EFF to walk out not only shows disregard for those who attended, but also illustrates the kind of leadership that creates and causes chaos in councils.
Cassiem has called for a public apology from the organisers of the dialogue.
"We expect a public apology for the deception and the profanity we endured from participants on the panel, for refusing to be part of the farcical event. The EFF will never legitimise the divisive Cape Forum by participating in an event they sponsor," she said.