MBOMBELA – A new fighter has been sworn in as a member of the provincial legislature. Mr Alfred Landwa Skhosana (38) replaced former Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MPL, Ms Ayanda Tshabalala last week.
Joined by hundreds of EFF members, Tshabalala resigned from the party earlier this month to join the ruling ANC. To replace her Skhosana took the oath of allegiance on Friday of last week. Deputy Speaker
Mr David Dube presided over the ceremony, with the provincial EFF leader, Mr Collen Sedibe in attendance.
As an MPL, Skhosana joins five other opposition party members in performing oversight over the executive. He is formerly from the ANC Youth League Ancyl in Nkangala and joined the fighters at the party’s inception in 2012.
During last year’s general elections the new number two occupied only the 23rd position on the party’s candidate list for Mpumalanga. Skhosana told Lowvelder that there could be no surprises in politics.
“Anything can happen at any time. In politics change can happen in a second.”
He said he left the ANC because the party’s “politics are no longer in the interest of the poor masses”.
Skhosana also charged that the powerful took advantage of young people in the party. “We can’t have the people taking advantage of young people. Many have political power but they may not be so familiar with the dynamics of life.”
He further accused the ANC of fostering a culture in which people even offered to kill for the leaders, as did EFF commander-in-chief Mr Julius Malema while still the Ancyl leader. Skhosana said this was said under pressure, and was a statement of psychological warfare.
“I believe the policies of the EFF speak to the real challenges faced by the people in the country.”
Sedibe said Skhosana was committed and hard-working.
“I hope he will add vibrancy and value to the EFF in legislature. I think he will attend all the committee meetings, unlike his predecessor.”
