Black First Land First

Black First Land First
Abbreviation BLF
President Andile Mngxitama
Deputy President Zanele Lwana
Secretary General Siphesihle Jele
Treasurer General Thandiswa Yaphi
National Spokesperson Lindsay Maasdorp
Founded 24 October 2015
Split from Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)
Student wing BLF-Student Movement (BLF-SM)
Ideology Black Consciousness
Marxism–Leninism[1]
Pan-Africanism
Revolutionary socialism
Sankarism
Black Supremacy
Political position Far-left
Colors Red, Green and Black
National Assembly
0 / 400
National Council of Provinces
0 / 90
Website
blf.org.za

Black First Land First (BLF) is a black consciousness, pan-Africanist and revolutionary socialist political party in South Africa. BLF was founded in 2015 by Andile Mngxitama following his expulsion from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).

History

Andile Mngxitama served as an EFF member of parliament after the party won 25 seats in the 2014 general election, the first elections ever contested by the EFF after their founding the previous year. Mngxitama became unhappy with EFF leadership after its inaugural elective conference in December 2014. He accused EFF leadership, and in particular its founder Julius Malema, of having the "same tendencies as the ANC", a party that Malema had been expelled from in 2012.[2][3] These accusations caused a rift in the EFF, a rift that widened in February 2015 when the two sides "came to blows" following accusations that Malema had made a deal with the ANC to help get Mngxitama and his sympathisers out of parliament.[4] Mngxitama and two of his comrades would be expelled in April.[5]

Mngxitama was perturbed by this development, and condemned the EFF of being a "watered-down version of the ANC".[2] His main policy disagreement was the EFF's abandonment of his ideas of land reform, the "principle of expropriation without compensation" of white-owned land. This had always been an essential issue for Mngxitama, who had voiced his opinion to no avail during his tenure on the parliamentary Committee on Rural Development and Land Reform.[6] He accused Malema of "selling out" on the issue, even invoking the Leninist practice of labelling him "revisionist".[1][7] This stated commitment to radical land reform would become the selling point of the Black First Land First manifesto.[8]

In 2016-2017, after accusing the EFF of having the same tendencies as the ruling ANC, BLF came out in support of former ANC and South African President Jacob Zuma, who has faced numerous corruption charges. BLF have also shown support for the controversial Gupta family, who have been widely accused of "capturing" the South African state through their dealings with Zuma.[9][10] Questions have been asked to what extent the Guptas have been funding Andile Mngxitama and BLF, and whether the Guptas intended to use BLF to escalate racial tensions in order to distract from their controversial activities.[11][12][13]

In August 2017, Mngxitama exhorted the Reserve Bank of South Africa to seize white farms and to initiate the formation of a black bank.[14]

In July 2017, e-mails surfaced suggesting that Mnxitama received instructions from the Gupta family and their contracted PR company Bell Pottinger.[15] Bell Potinger was subsequently suspended by the British Public Relations and Communications Association for "exploiting and creating racial divisions in South Africa" for five years.[16]

Policies

In its "Revolutionary Call" released on 13 August 2015, BLF notes that, "[w]ithout land there is no freedom or dignity. We want Land First because it is the basis of our freedom, our identity, our spiritual well-being, our economic development and culture. The land of Africans was stolen and this theft has rendered us landless in our own land. We want all the land with all of its endowments on its surface together with all the fortunes underground as well as the sky. All of it belongs to us! We are a people crying for our stolen land! Now we have decided to get it back by any means necessary" SCI: "By any means necessary means without regard to famine, bloodshed or deteriorating as Zimbabwe did as our spiritual well-being demands it".

Founder Mngxitama also made it clear that BLF has a policy called "Code of dealing with house negroes and sell outs".[17][18] What is contained in the policy is however still unclear.

The Logo of Black First Land First (BLF) movement is the Sankofa Bird as a symbolism for understanding a people engaged in the struggle for freedom through the power of revolutionary historical lessons. In this regard we see how the Sankofa bird, while looking backwards, flies forward with an egg in its mouth. At the centre of the Sankofa's wing is the five pointed red star. The five-pointed red star symbolises socialism and the blood of blacks whose lives were lost through the anti blackness of white supremacy. Moreover, the five points of the star represents the five continents and hence an internationalist outlook in pursuit of the total freedom of all the oppressed peoples of the world. The circle is colored in green to signify the Land and all the minerals beneath it that must be returned to the people.The circle itself, with its red outer and black inner boundary lines serves to protect the people engaged in revolution. The formation of the Sankofa bird into a black clenched fist signifies Black Power! This presupposes the solidarity of the black people. The formation of the bird's feet into a fountain pen signifies the importance of revolutionary theory as a guide to action in revolutionary struggle.[19]

Structure

According to its Constitution,[20] The BLF operates under the Leninist party organisational structure known as democratic centralism.[lower-alpha 1] There are 4 chief organs of the party, arranged in the following hierarchy:[lower-alpha 2]

  1. The National Imbizo which elects the National Coordinating Committee
  2. The Provincial Imbizo which elects the Provincial Coordinating Committee
  3. The Regional Imbizo which elects the Regional Coordinating Committee
  4. The Branch Biennial General Imbizo which elects the Branch Coordinating Committee

The National Imbizo, as the supreme ruling body, will convene at least once every 5 years. It is responsible for electing the members of the National Coordinating Committee (NCC) including the Secretary General.[lower-alpha 3] This is very similar to the relationship between the Party Congress and the Central Committee in Marxist-Leninist parties. The BLF Constitution mandates the 50% of the seats in both the NCC and it's subcommittee, the Central Committee (CC), be occupied by women.[lower-alpha 4] The lower level Imbizos and Coordinating Committees function in a similar fashion.[lower-alpha 5]

Ideology

Mngxitama has stated that the party's core ideologies are Black Consciousness and Pan-Africanism with a Sankarist leadership ethos.[21][22] In the Marxist-Leninist tradition of vanguardism, the BLF has declared itself the "vanguard organisation leading the revolutionary masses in the fight to destroy white supremacy".[lower-alpha 6] It's activities have led some to view the party as black supremacist.[23] The party has not yet contested any elections, and will have internal discussions on whether to do so in the future.[22]

Views on climate change

In June 2017, leader Andile Mngxitama blamed White Monopoly Capital for a severe storm that hit Cape Town the preceding week. Mngxitama is of the opinion that climate change is the fault of "capitalism and racism".[24][25] Mngxitama stated that white people have assaulted nature and that Africa is now paying for these assaults. He goes further to argue that there are no natural disasters, only white-made disasters such as droughts and earthquakes. Mngxitama also stated that the blame for deaths caused by the Cape Storm should be placed at the feet of the Oppenheimer and Rupert family as well as the Democratic Alliance.[24]

Black Supremacy

In September 2018, Spokesperson Lyndsay Maasdorp told The Citizen (South Africa) reporter Daniel Friedman that as a white person his existence is "a crime". Maasdorp has also posted on his, now suspended, Twitter account, in 2018, "I have aspiratios to kill white people, and this must be achieved!".[26]

Controversy

Threatening of Politicians

In July 2017 a BLF member was accused of harassing and sending death threats to ANC MP Makhosi Khoza following Khoza's criticisms of President Zuma. Khoza has been among a few ANC Members of Parliament urging other members to vote with their conscience in an upcoming vote of no confidence against President Jacob Zuma. In a series of text messages, Khoza was urged to vote against the motion of no confidence against President Jacob Zuma or face death. Threats escalated towards Khoza's children and Khoza was also told that she had 21 days to live.[17][18] Founder Mngxitama denied the accusations and argued that Khoza is loud and irrelevant, as well as that Khoza is black and that BLF will never threaten a black person.[27] Mngxitama further stated that there must be a white person behind the threats.[17][18]

BLF Launched their own investigation into the accusations regarding the threats against Makhosi Khoza. BLF argued that Daily Maverick is a white monopoly capital publication that manufactured the story to increase Makhosi Khoza's public image in order to facilitate in a pro-white monopoly capital break away party from the ANC.[28]

Harassment of journalists

Ferial Haffajee

BLF Leader, Mngxitama, has been implicated in a sexual smear campaign against Huffington Post Editor-at-large, Ferial Haffajee. Various images of Haffajee came to light with amateur photo manipulation depicting Haffajee in various acts with South African businessman, Johann Rupert. An army of fake Twitter accounts, also known as "Paid Twitter" retweeted and spread the images over social media. The only real accounts found spreading the images were BLF leader Andile Mngxitama, Decolonisation Foundation's Mzwanele Manyi and Uncensored Opinion's Pinky Khoabane. The Paid Twitter campaign has since been linked to UK based PR firm Bell Pottinger, employed by the Gupta family to spread fake news and discredit journalists that speak out against President Zuma or the Gupta Family.[29] BLF's sister publication, Black Opinion, has since expressed their discontent with Haffajee, stating that she is a Black Liberal acting in favour of White Monopoly Capital.[30]

Peter Bruce and Tim Cohen

Tiso Blackstar editor-at-large, Peter Bruce and Business Day editor, Tim Cohen were intimidated and assaulted by BLF members after publishing an article about the Gupta family.[31][32] The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) expressed concerns over intimidation of journalists by BLF and cited the South African Constitution Section 15 and 16 addressing free press and freedom of religion and opinion.[32][33] The South African National Editors' Forum (SANEF) applied for an urgent interdict to stop BLF members from harassing and intimidating journalists. SANEF further gave BLF the opportunity for assurance that they will not further intimidate journalists. BLF however, declined[32] and released a statement in which they listed other white journalists whom they indicated would be next on their target list.[33] Among other parties who expressed their concern was the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation who condemned the intended target list by BLF.[34]

After being taken to court by SANEF, BLF through their publication arm Black Opinion, accused SANEF of being racist white journalists and the poodle of White Monopoly Capital. BLF further accused the non-white journalists who form part of the SANEF court case as 'house negroes' who suffer from an identity crisis. BLF stated that they will take action only against the white journalists who form part of the court case.[35][36]

Micah Reddy

BLF members were accused of harassing and assaulting investigative journalist for amaBhungane, Micah Reddy, following the filming of a televised debate on the subject of fake news in South Africa.[37] BLF founder Andile Mngxitama was of the opinion that Reddy provoked BLF members and further stated that Reddy can be lucky he is black because BLF will never assault a black person.[38][39]

Daniel Friedman

In September 2018, Spokesperson Lyndsay Maasdorp told The Citizen (South Africa) reporter Daniel Friedman that as a white person his existence is "a crime". Maasdorp has also posted on his Twitter account, in 2018, "I have aspiratios to kill white people, and this must be achieved!".[26]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Constitution Section 3.13
  2. ↑ Constitution Section 7.1
  3. ↑ Constitution Section 11.1
  4. ↑ Constitution Section 12.3-12.8
  5. ↑ Constitution Section 17-22
  6. ↑ Constitution Section 3.5

References

  1. 1 2 "LENIN'S WARNING FOR SA TODAY: REVISIONISM VERSUS REVOLUTION!". BLF. 12 February 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  2. 1 2 "New party ponders elections". Independent Online. 25 January 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  3. ↑ "Out! ANC upholds Julius Malema's expulsion". Mail & Guardian. 24 Apr 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  4. ↑ "Mngxitama: EFF in bed with ANC". ENCA. 12 February 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  5. ↑ "EFF EXPELS 3 OF ITS SUSPENDED MEMBERS". Eyewitness News. 11 April 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  6. ↑ "Land expropriation without compensation? No thanks, says Minister". People's Assembly. 3 July 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  7. ↑ "HOW MALEMA SOLD OUT ON LAND REFORM". BLF. 10 May 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  8. ↑ "The People's Manifesto". BLF. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  9. ↑ "BLF attacks peaceful protesters outside Gupta event: JAI". www.enca.com. Retrieved 2017-09-08.
  10. ↑ "TimesLIVE". www.timeslive.co.za.
  11. ↑ "Gupta PR firm quits after being targeted in 'political attacks'". Retrieved 2017-09-08.
  12. ↑ http://bbbee.typepad.com/files/343530184-bell-pottinger.pdf
  13. ↑ Claymore, Ezra. "Read: how Black First Land First leader Andile Mngxitama asked the Guptas for money". www.thesouthafrican.com. Retrieved 2017-06-10.
  14. ↑ Liebenberg, Dries. "SABC News - Mngxitama calls for a black bank & seizure of white farms:Friday 11 August 2017". www.sabc.co.za. Retrieved 2017-10-08.
  15. ↑ "BLF Exposed: Bell Pottinger 'commissioned' Mngxitama, received instructions from Guptas". The South African. Retrieved 2018-09-19.
  16. ↑ "Bell Pottinger guilty of 'exploiting racial tensions on behalf of Guptas'". Retrieved 2018-09-19.
  17. 1 2 3 "ANC's Makhosi Khoza warned 'you have 21 days to live'". 15 July 2017. Retrieved 2017-07-16.
  18. 1 2 3 Reporter, Citizen. "Number used to send Makhosi Khoza death threats registered to BLF – report". The Citizen. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
  19. ↑ "BLF Colours and Logo". BLF. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  20. ↑ "Constitution Of The Black First Land First Movement". BLF. 24 October 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  21. ↑ "Black First! – Land First! A revolutionary Call". News24. 13 August 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  22. 1 2 "Message from the National Convener #1". BLF GP. 6 September 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  23. ↑ "FARMLANDS". Lauren Southern. 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  24. 1 2 "Cape storms the fault of 'white monopoly capital' - Mngxitama". News24. Retrieved 2017-06-10.
  25. ↑ Claymore, Ezra. "White Monopoly Capital to blame for storms. Black First Land First leader". www.thesouthafrican.com. Retrieved 2017-06-10.
  26. 1 2 Friedman, Daniel. "White existence is a crime, says BLF spokesperson". The Citizen. Retrieved 2018-09-19.
  27. ↑ "We don't target blacks, BLF tells MP Khoza". www.enca.com. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
  28. ↑ L, Black First; First (2017-07-16). "Daily Maverick created the Dr Makhosi Khoza story". Black First Land First. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
  29. ↑ "Ferial Haffajee: The Gupta Fake News Factory And Me". Huffington Post South Africa. Retrieved 2017-06-18.
  30. ↑ admin (2017-03-17). "Beware of black liberals like Ferial Haffajee". Black Opinion. Retrieved 2017-06-18.
  31. ↑ "WATCH: Another respected SA editor targeted by BLF". HeraldLIVE. Retrieved 2017-07-02.
  32. 1 2 3 "SAHRC concerned about intimidation of media". Retrieved 2017-07-09.
  33. 1 2 "Human Rights Commission slams BLF for intimidating journalists | IOL". Retrieved 2017-07-09.
  34. ↑ "Kathrada Foundation salutes Suna Venter, slams BLF threats | IOL". Retrieved 2017-07-09.
  35. ↑ admin (2017-07-04). "BLF taken to court by white racist journalist". Black Opinion. Retrieved 2017-07-09.
  36. ↑ admin (2017-07-06). "BLF meets racist white journalists in High Court". Black Opinion. Retrieved 2017-07-09.
  37. ↑ "BLF in altercation with amaBhungane journalist at Cape Town airport". News24. Retrieved 2017-08-03.
  38. ↑ de Villiers, James (17 July 2017). "amaBhungane considering legal advice following alleged BLF attack on journalist". News24. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  39. ↑ "'Lucky we don't fight black people' - BLF to amaBhungane journo after alleged assault". News24. Retrieved 2017-07-24.
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