DURBAN, February 16 (ANA) – In an amazing about-turn, the woman whose house was built by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) right next to President Jacob Zuma’s controversial Nkandla residence, is set join the African National Congress (ANC).
A statement released by the ANC Youth League’s (ANCYL) spokesman Mkhuseli Sondzaba on Tuesday announced that several members of other parties, including S’thandiwe Hlongwane, would be welcomed into the party by ANCYL national leader Collen Maine on Thursday.
“The ANCYL [in KwaZulu-Natal] will also be officially welcoming in the KwaNxamalala Village in Inkandla, former EFF’s number one supporter Sthandiwe Hlongwane.
Hlongwane, a mother of four, was handed a house built by the EFF leader Julius Malems amid a blaze of publicity that saw ANC supporters clash with EFF supporters outside the house in January 2014, barely 300 metres from President Jacob Zuma’s controversial Nkandla residence.
During Malema’s handover of the house, ANC supporters marched up and down the road.
Later, ANC supporters pelted the EFF members with stones and police arrested some 30 ANC supporters who were charged with public violence.
In May, during the national election, Hlongwane went and voted for the EFF at the same polling booth where Zuma himself cast his vote.
The house again made headlines when it later emerged that it was falling apart due to shoddy workmanship.
Malema then intervened to ensure that repairs were carried out, but on Tuesday, Sondzaba described Hlongwane’s home as being “ill-structural and falling away house in KwaNxamalala Village”.
– African News Agency (ANA)
