The Freedom Front Plus (VF+) has accused the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) of using Parliament to play symbolic politics at the expense of tackling South Africa’s economic crisis. In a debate on establishing an ad hoc committee to investigate apartheid-era statues and memorials, the VF+ said the EFF’s priorities were badly misplaced in a country with unemployment over 33% and little growth.

“It is reminiscent of the EFF’s opportunism four years ago when it tried to hoodwink the ANC with the constitutional Section 25 debate on expropriation and property rights,” the party argued. Pointing to the EFF’s reference to a supposed statue of Paul Kruger outside the Union Buildings, the VF+ noted, “There is no statue of Kruger in front of the Union Buildings. And no one can make you feel inferior, except you.”

[There is a statue of Nelson Mandela outside the Union Buildings – The Common Sense Editorial Team]

The VF+ highlighted the historic relationship between King Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo and Louis Botha, commemorated in Durban with statues facing one another. Botha, who helped secure Dinuzulu’s release from imprisonment, is now among those historical figures the EFF wants removed.

According to the VF+, there are “two types of people in South Africa: builders and breakers. Fortunately, most are builders.” The party said commemorating past and present leaders does not prevent South Africans from honouring new heroes.