EFF Calls Cliff “Racist” But Acknowledges Mpofu is His Lawyer

The Economic Freedom Fighters said on Tuesday it notes that the party’s national chairperson Dali Mpofu is legal counsel for Gareth Cliff in a civil case against M-Net.

The EFF said it acknowledges Mpofu’s professional right and obligation to represent whomsoever approaches and briefs him on any issue that relates to law and said “in our view, professionals carry an obligation to provide any form of professional assistance to all people, irrespective of their race, prejudices and background.”

The EFF went on to say, however, that it “holds a view that Gareth Cliff’s defence of Penny Sparrow’s racist remarks represents the worst form of racism. The EFF believes that Gareth Cliff is a racist, who holds white supremacist views consciously and sub-consciously.”

The statement claims that Cliff insulted an African family who lost their loved one, the late Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, and that according to African traditions and respect this is not done and could only be done by “unreconstructed and uncultured racists who have no respect of black people and their traditions.”

The EFF said his defence of Sparrow’s “racist and dehumanizing statements” against black people on the basis that it’s freedom of speech is unacceptable.

They said “the non-apology given by Gareth Cliff is noted” and added that “freedom of Speech is never absolute and beneficiaries of white racism in SA should never be used this right as justification of their racist utterances.

“The EFF’s National Chairperson’s representation of a racist Gareth Cliff does not mean that the EFF defends racism. Lawyers and Advocates have a legal obligation to fulfill their professional duties and the EFF will not prevent professionals from performing their duties.”

The statement ended with: “We remain resolute in the fight against racism and we shall never retreat, nor surrender! #RacismMustFall!”