'Mandela's ANC was buried with him' says Malema

Johannesburg - The ANC of Nelson Mandela died with him, EFF leader Julius Malema said on Sunday.

"Nelson Mandela's ANC, the real one, was buried with him. Now it's just Zuma's African National Criminals," Malema told a crowd gathered in Kliptown, Soweto.

Malema was introducing advocate Dali Mpofu to the party as its Gauteng premier candidate.

"Mandela is sleeping with the real ANC. May his soul rest in peace." Malema said the Economic Freedom Fighters chose Kliptown as its venue because it is where the fight for freedom took place.

"Let the fight for economic freedom also start here."

He said the party's tent which was erected in Thokoza, south of Johannesburg, had been burned down by the African National Congress.

He urged EFF supporters not to retaliate but to rather pray for the ruling party.

"These people are sick, they need prayer."

The stage and marquee set up for an EFF rally in Thokoza was petrol bombed on Saturday.

"Police and the EFF were tipped off [on Friday] about threats of disruption by ANC members [but] we thought the disruption would happen during the event," EFF spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said at the time

ANC spokesperson Jackson Mthembu rejected the accusation.

"We never do such things. This is an unfair accusation," Mthembu said.

Brigadier Neville Malila said police were investigating the incident.