Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has defended the party's reason to celebrate its 10th year anniversary in Marikana, where 34 mine workers died in August 2012 during a strike at the Lonmin Platinum Mine. More than 70 miners were left injured during the ordeal. The EFF descended into the area yesterday ahead of the big celebration at FNB in Johannesburg on Saturday.

While addressing supporters, party leader Julius Malema said the EFF was doing the right thing by returning where the Red Berets were born. "The EFF was formed here 10 years ago and where was that criticism when we were formed those 10 years ago?" he asked. Malema also touched on social issues that he claims only his party has done. "No party has spent more time at old age homes than EFF. It was the EFF on the 10th anniversary in the old age homes, orphanages, and centres of disabilities and the last one was in Mafikeng where we adopted 20 orphans and we are going to take them to the best schools in the area," he said. "Today, we are here to dance and celebrate so that the enemy looking at us from a distance must feel the chest pains because they said the EFF would not last, but we are still here 10 years down the line," he added.

He also said the EFF will ensure that the widows of those who died during the Marikana massacre will be looked after. "Some of the widows of Marikana have come to us and said their houses are falling apart and said the commitment that has been made has not been fulfilled. We are going to follow up on all those things, all those who have profited and stolen from Marikana widows will be exposed in the name of Mambush," he said. Mambush was a man who led the strike, he famously wore a green blanket. In 2019, Lonmin was acquired by the multinational mining and metals processing Group, Sibanye-Stillwater. The EFF will hold its biggest celebration at 94 000 capacity FNB Stadium in Nasrec on Saturday.