EFF vows to unseat DA

Julius Malema fires warning shot at the DA over the land reform issue

THE EFF has threatened its coalition with the DA in the metros by tabling a motion of no confidence in Nelson Mandela Bay metro mayor Athol Trollip in April.

This, according to EFF leader Julius Malema, was a warning shot to the DA over the land issue. He signalled they might also move to the Johannesburg and Tshwane metros.

“We’re happy with the type of amendments the ANC wants to make. This is not about party politics. It is about an issue of national interest.

“So on April 6, the day of Jan van Riebeeck’s arrival, the day of the formation of the PAC by Sobukwe and the hanging of Solomon Mahlangu… in honour of these people, and also as a demonstration of seriousness about this issue of land, we will be passing a motion of no confidence in the mayor of PE (the DA’s Athol Trollip) as a warning shot to the DA,” said Malema.

Yesterday, the motion of expropriation of land without compensation was passed by the House with a majority of 241 MPs against the DA’s 83 members.

Parties in Parliament agreed that the issue be referred to the constitutional review committee for consultation and it must report back to the House on August 30.

The debate in the Chamber came hours after President Cyril Ramaphosa told the National House of Traditional Leaders that the issue of expropriation of land without compensation must be done speedily.

Ramaphosa said this was an urgent matter and there was no more time for delays.

Malema said they would pass a motion of no confidence against Trollip.

The DA won the metros in the August 2016 local government elections after getting into a coalition with the EFF.

The ANC caucus backed the motion after it tabled amendments that were supported by the House.

The DA and Freedom Front Plus warned against expropriation of land without compensation, and the ACDP warned that it would harm the economy and chase away investors.

Cope leader Mosiuoa Lekota also rejected the motion and said they could not allow the failure of the government to oppress minorities.

He told Malema he went to Robben Island to fight against white domination, and today he was fighting against black domination.

Water and Sanitation Minister Gugile Nkwinti, who was minister of Rural Development and Land Reform until Monday’s cabinet reshuffle, said they would fully implement the ANC conference resolution on the expropriation of land without compensation.

He said in the land audit they had conducted, they found that 72% of the land was owned by whites, followed by coloureds, who own 15%, Indians (5%) and blacks (4%).

DA chief whip John Steenhuisen said this was a lazy short cut to addressing land reform. He said there was no constitutional amendment required to address land reform and the government had failed to address the issue over the past two decades.