MBOMBELA – The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader was supposed to have a victorious tour of Mpumalanga this past week, but instead Mr Julius Malema’s visit coincided with hundreds of supporters denouncing their membership over the weekend to join the ANC.
The EFF made big inroads during the general elections just over a year ago, winning two seats in the provincial legislature.
Last week a holder of one of these, MPL Ms Ayanda Tshabalala, announced her resignation from the EFF. She was joined by a number of leaders previously on the EFF’s provincial and regional structures. On Saturday even more disgruntled members followed their lead and joined the ruling party.
ANC heavyweights like state security minister Mr David Mahlobo and telecommunications minister Mr Siyabonga Cwele, welcomed the new and returning members into the fold at Nelspruit Rugby Club. At the same time about 8 000 supporters joined Malema at a rally in Hazyview.
Yesterday he appeared in the High Court in Pretoria where SARS withdrew its application to have him sequestrated over an outstanding tax bill.
In Mpumalanga ANC provincial secretary, Mr Lucky Ndinisa, led the former members in pledging allegiance to the ruling party. “We are definitely happy to have them,” Ndinisa said. “The new members were formerly on the EFF’s provincial and regional executive committees.
Some of them held high leadership positions. We are now stronger and wiser than before. Now we have more eyes and ears and hands on the ground.”
He rubbished claims that they were promised material benefits in exchange for the move and explained that they would be required to complete a mandatory six-month waiting period just like any other new member before becoming fully-fledged ANC members.
“But in two years’ time we will expect them to also occupy leadership positions. We are looking forward to working with them.”
Mr Mpumelelo Masina who returned to the ANC on Saturday, said his EFF colleagues had been loyal to the party since they helped start it, but now they were ready to work with the ruling party.
“EFF has always shared the same principles as the ANC Youth League. The EFF was necessary. It made the ANC pull up its socks.”
He explained they had underestimated the number of buses they would need to transport supporters to Mbombela, and many living in the Highveld were left by the wayside on Saturday.
Only about 500 managed to pledge themselves to the party under Ndinisa’s guidance before trading their red EFF shirts for the colours of the ANC.
