In a first for SA’s body politics, the EFF has banned a chunk of its own public representatives from attending the party’s weekend 10th-anniversary rally.
The sanctioned MPs, MPLs, and councillors failed to arrange transport for their constituencies to attend the milestone mass gathering at FNB Stadium on Saturday.
More worryingly, the majority of those banned are councillors from the party stronghold provinces of Limpopo, KwaZulu Natal, Mpumalanga, and the North West.
Of the 428 councillors, a staggering 297 work in municipalities located in the four provinces where the party enjoys solid electoral support.
Prominent on the list of the banned leaders which includes four MPs, and seven MPLs is the former provincial chairperson in KZN, Vusi Khoza.
Ironically, earlier on Wednesday Khoza sang pro-EFF songs with his voice high at another rally in Marikana just hours before the name and shame offensive.
The EFF warned all its public representatives of the drastic decision in January that no cent would leave the EFF bank account for transport costs.
It was agreed that public representatives would, on their own initiative, arrange transport for members and supporters in their municipal, provincial, and parliamentary constituencies.
This meant that those serving in public office on the EFF ticket must mobilise funding in their own ways and means to hire buses.
Up to 100,000 of the EFF’s red berets faithful were expected to fill up Joburg South’s iconic calabash on Saturday.
“The EFF pronounced that all those who failed to adhere…would have their names published to the public,” read the party statement on Wednesday.
This was regardless of their rank or position in the organisation, the statement continued.
The party said the initial deadline for transport submissions was May 31, which was later extended to June 30.
“This means that all Public Representatives had six months to organise transport for their constituencies, with a one-month extension granted”.
“All of those whose names appear on the respective lists are banned from attending the 10th Anniversary Rally of the EFF.”
The consequence management will not end there, the statement proclaimed, adding that this included those who tried but did not meet the requisite target.
The jury is out on what kind of further action the party’s top brass may impose and a performance review could be on the cards.
The affected representatives may lose their cushy public posts, just less than two years into a five-year local government term that started in November 2021.
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