KZN EFF rebels want Shivambu probed

KZN EFF rebels want Shivambu probed

MATTHEW SAVIDES and JAN-JAN JOUBERT | 2016-09-19 06:49:58.0

Floyd Shivambu. File photo.
Image by: Foto24 / Denzil Maregele / Gallo Images

A disgruntled group of EFF supporters in KwaZulu-Natal have vowed that they will not back down in their attempts to have party deputy leader Floyd Shivambu suspended and investigated.

One of the group's leaders Nhlanhla Mthembu said there were questions on how election campaign money was spent and allocated in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, two provinces where the EFF underperformed.

These poor performances were on Shivambu's watch as deputy EFF leader, said Mthembu.

The EFF's official structures in both provinces have been formally disbanded and Shivambu and commander-in-chief Julius Malema were due to address party members in East London and Durban on Saturday and Sunday respectively. But it appears that neither meeting took place.

"The EFF itself has good policies. There is nothing wrong but it's just individuals who just want to put their agendas forward in the organisation," said Mthembu.

"Floyd has become a factionalist now. We've been raising issues since 2014 but we have never had a response," said Mthembu.

Acting EFF spokesman Fana Mokoena said last week the disgruntled members of the group had "effectively expelled themselves" from the political party.

But Mthembu said there had been no official word from the party about their expulsion. He said the group wanted to face a formal disciplinary process.

Mokoena said Malema would give up his place on the portfolio committees on justice, mineral resources and international relations to focus on party matters.

"Malema will mainly be deployed on a stringent programme to build the EFF everywhere in the country. Secretary-general Godrich Gardee will not be in parliament that often either because he has to be office-bound in an organisational capacity," said Mokoena in an interview last week.