MALEMA AND SUPPORTERS CAMP OUTSIDE PRESIDENT’S OFFICIAL PRETORIA RESIDENCE

South Africa ( Times Live ) After hours of marching, singing and scores of EFF members arriving in buses at Pretoria’s Church Square on Monday, EFF leader Julius Malema made an appearance.

Surrounded by a sea of red, he told supporters the national shutdown was a success despite the heavy police presence.

“You must be proud of yourselves, fighters, that we made it without looting, without burning a building. History will remember this day — that you were not scared of 3,700 soldiers. You were not scared of 18,000 policemen. You were not scared of the helicopters roaming over our houses every day as part of intimidation,” he said.

He led the large crowd to the presidential residence at Bryntirion Estate near the Union Buildings. The group walked peacefully as people watched from flat windows and balconies as Malema waved at them, beckoning them to join the march.

While the streets of Pretoria were not barricaded and traffic flowed freely, businesses and shops in the CBD were all closed.

To Malema, this was a success. He said the ANC’s pessimism was “political jealousy”