EFF provincial leader Bernard Joseph says attacks on one of their candidates and a branch commander will not deter them from working in their communities.
Godfrey Tromp, EFF branch leader, was shot several times in front of his home in Vrygrond on Wednesday July 13, only days after his vehicle was petrol bombed.
The attack was allegedly orchestrated by gangsters from Vrygrond who were banned from a tavern he owns.
James Kingman, an EFF ward candidate in Lavender Hill, was also attacked at the traffic lights at Prince George Drive and Military Road on Friday July 15.
Mr Kingman was on his way to his Retreat home from a branch meeting in Vrygrond when his vehicle, marked with party posters, was hit from behind – allegedly by a drunk driver.
Mr Kingman claims that shortly after the incident four men, who came from Lavender Hill, attacked him with bricks.
He was rescued when a friend came to his aid.
Mr Joseph said: “It is politically motivated but the attacks are fronted by gangsterism. These constant attacks are an attempt to harass EFF members and to scare them from working in the Vrygrond area.We are not standing down. The more they attack the stronger we will become. We want change for the community of Vrygrond, and we want to address issues. We will not be deterred from our purpose.”
Mr Tromp declined to comment.
Steenberg police’s Warrant Officer John Bartlett confirmed the incident reported by Mr Kingman.
“At 11.10am, we responded to an accident scene on the corner of Prince George’s Drive and Military Road, Steenberg. It is alleged that a white Toyota Corolla collided with a white Renault Clio,” he said.
The Toyota allegedly failed to stop at the red traffic robot and collided with the Clio (Mr Kingman’s vehicle). No one sustained any injuries.
The driver of the Toyota, a 35-year-old man from Capricorn, was arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol and appeared in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on Monday July 18.