NELSPRUIT – The Mpumalanga leadership of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) today lodged a complaint with the Public Protector’s (PP) office about cars the premier has purchased.
The office of the premier, Mr David Mabuza, recently defended the purchase of the cars. Mabuza allegedly bought at least one of the four vehicles after Finance Minister Mr Pravin Gordhan announced cost limits on official cars would be standardised and bulk purchasing used to reduce costs.
According to Mr Zibonele Mncwango, the premier’s spokesman, the premier bought:
*A sedan similar to a Lexus he took over from the former first citizen, in 2011
*A Range Rover SUV that experienced mechanical problems, in 2013
*An Audi A-8 as a back-up car
*A BMW X5 for his security detail.
Mr Mpumelelo Masina, head of communications for the Mpumalanga EFF, said the party was disgusted with the purchases.
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“It is a grave misappropriation of public funds and we have taken it upon ourselves to ask the PP to investigate it and report back to the people of South Africa on the validity of the matter,” he said.
Masina said the party did not believe it was hypocritical to lodge a complaint against an elected official while the EFF’s commander-in-chief, Mr Julius Malema, who hopes to become elected as an official himself during the upcoming general elections, is likely to be charged with fraud and corruption later this year.
The former leader of the ANCYL will know by April whether he will face charges of fraud, corruption, money-laundering and racketeering in September.
“Our commander-in-chief has subjected himself to the court. He has never run away. We believe he is innocent and it will be proven in a court,” Masina said.
He said it was the prosecution that has taken two years to bring this case to trial, which led the EFF to believe the charges constituted a political plot. “The EFF maintains high faith in the PP’s office,” Masina said.
Ms Ayanda Tshabalala, the party’s provincial convenor, explained that they had initially planned to open their provincial offices in Nelspruit this week, during the national leadership’s visit to hold political rallies and public meetings, but that it was delayed to the refurbishing not being completed.
Masina explained that the party had no money, and relied on selling their red berets for funding, as well as the goodwill of the community and fighters. “We have a zero balance on our bank account.”
Malema is expected to address the media this afternoon, following an EFF-meeting.
