New EFF PR councillor in Govan Mbeki Municipality sworn in
Lungile Buthelezi was officially sworn in on September 8.
A new Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) proportional representation (PR) councillor has been sworn in at the Govan Mbeki Municipality, replacing a councillor who has since left the party.
Lungile Buthelezi was officially sworn in as an EFF PR councillor of the Govan Mbeki Municipality on September 8 at the Secunda Magistrate’s Court by magistrate Bimla Pillay.
During the ceremony, Buthelezi committed herself to serving the community with honesty, dedication and integrity.
She pledged to perform her duties to the best of her ability, in accordance with the oath of office and the responsibilities entrusted to her as a municipal councillor.
Buthelezi takes over the PR councillor position previously held by Given Sierane.
Mpumalanga EFF chairperson Collen Sedibe told Ridge Times that Sierane was no longer an EFF member and had joined another political party, resulting in his removal from the position.
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Meanwhile, another EFF PR councillor in the municipality, Martha Nkuna, has also received a letter notifying her that her party membership has been terminated.
The letter states that, following the termination of her membership, Nkuna may no longer represent the organisation in any capacity, particularly as a public representative, communicate the organisation’s positions or participate in any organisational activities.
Nkuna said the letter did not give reasons for the termination and claimed her attempts to get answers from party leaders had been unsuccessful.
“After receiving the letter, I tried to find out why my membership was terminated.
“I called and sent emails, but some of the leaders told me to ignore the letter and continue to work for the organisation,” said Nkuna.
“They even told me to go and shoot photos as the councillor candidate in Nelspruit, but surprisingly my name did not appear on the councillor candidate list.
I am still shocked because I worked hard for this organisation. The timing of the incident is suspicious because we are only left with a month and a few weeks before the local government elections and the EFF provincial conference,” said Nkuna.
Sedibe confirmed that the EFF had also terminated Nkuna’s membership. According to Sedibe, Nkuna was removed for failing to comply with the party’s requirement for public representatives to acquire a bakkie.
“Nkuna didn’t comply with the organisation’s requirements to buy a bakkie, hence her removal. All EFF councillors are fully aware and know very well about this obligation of buying a bakkie,” said Sedibe.
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Sedibe said the EFF currently has 12 councillors representing the party in the Govan Mbeki Municipal Council, with one position still to be filled, which would bring the total to 13.
The latest developments follow the EFF’s suspension last year of five PR councillors in the Govan Mbeki Municipality for allegedly failing to comply with the party’s constitutional requirement to own bakkies.
The councillors received suspension letters with immediate effect, pending disciplinary hearings held in September. Nkuna was among those suspended.
The EFF said the action followed a resolution of the party’s third Central Command Team (CCT) meeting, held after its third National People’s Assembly in August.
The CCT resolved that public representatives without bakkies should be processed by the provincial disciplinary committee under Section D(12) of the EFF Code of Conduct for Caucuses and Public Representatives.
The party said its provincial office had, through a verification process, identified several councillors who had not acquired bakkies, despite the EFF constitution requiring public representatives to acquire one within six months of being sworn into office.
