The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in KwaZulu-Natal has snatched former Ukhozi FM radio personality Linda “Mr Magic” Sibiya to its ranks.
The news was confirmed to Sunday World by the EFF KZN secretary Nkululeko Ngubane who explained that the red berets will soon reveal other household names who have thrown their weight behind the party ahead of the 2024 polls.
“This is exciting news for us. It shows our conviction and commitment that the EFF is a government in waiting. We also appreciate when people who are well known in society join the movement. For us, it’s not about whether a person is a celebrity or not.
“All we want is for them to subscribe to our cardinal pillars,” said Ngubane on Wednesday.
Sibiya, who during his radio heydays commanded a cult-like following, was fired from the public broadcaster in 2014. He had spent 18 years at the Durban-based station.
The grounds for Sibiya’s dismissal was that he had orchestrated and conspired to loot over R1.8 million from fashion giant Edcon.
The money was apparently given to Sibiya’s company Magic Communications to be used in an event honouring Ukhozi FM’s legends. Another allegation was that Sibiya had used the public broadcaster’s platform to campaign for the ANC.
In 2018, the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court withdrew the matter citing lack of sufficient evidence.
The announcement of Sibiya as the new red berets recruit comes hot on the heels of Magasela Mzobe, the high-ranking ANC leader who also announced that he had ditched the ruling party and opted to join EFF.
On Monday, EFF also announced the capture of another high profile personality in Busisiwe Mkhwebane. The former public protector was officially unveiled as a new “Fighter” at Kwaggafontein. She’s the new member of the branch in the rural town in Mpumalanga province.
