Outcry over resignation of EFF MPs
THE RESIGNATION of EFF Members of Parliament (MP) Mmabatho Mokause, from the Northern Cape, and Sipho Mbatha, from Gauteng, as from January 1 next year, has been met with an outcry from fellow EFF members.
This follows after the MPs were served with letters by the EFF central command team last week, where they were instructed to “resign immediately” from the National Assembly.
A number of EFF members have questioned on social media why the two MPs were targeted, where the reasons provided for their forced resignations were “laziness and under-performance”.
“What formula was used to determine the laziness of these two commissars? If a national leader is deployed to a province or region that leader will never get a positive result if members of that particular area are not willing to work.
“Those who are saying the movement is growing are fooling themselves. All these people who are seen as not lazy by the leadership are reporting bogus figures and by-elections are exposing them.
“You must not be misled fighters; use your own brains and stop behaving like ANC members by worshipping authorities.”
Parliament, meanwhile, referred media enquiries to the EFF office, while EFF secretary-general Godrich Gardee refused to speak to the media about the resignations.
“Talk to those people, don’t talk to me.”
Mokause said that she would remain an MP and serve on the parliamentary committees of human settlements, public service and administration, until her term of office comes to an end next year.
“To challenge this decision would amount to extreme ill-discipline. I submitted my letter of resignation on Friday and it has been accepted by Parliament. I will continue to serve on the central command team of the EFF. I have not resigned from the party. I have taken instructions and listened to the party,” said Mokause.
She indicated that she intended to return to her hometown of Kuruman next year.
“Life must go on. I wish to thank the party for the opportunity to serve as the first generation of EFF members at national level.”
Mokause added that she would spend more time with her family following her work and political commitments over the past four years.
“As a single mother, I will take time to spend time with my twoyear-old son. My eldest son lost his father a month ago and it has been a tough journey. I need to get back home to my old life, my mother and siblings. Family means everything and it is time that I give them the attention that they deserve.”
Mokause denied reports that she had any aspirations to contest the provincial leadership of the party.
“That is a false story. You do not elect yourself as a leader. The people must say who they want and if you are no longer their first choice, you must accept that. There is no bad blood, I respect the commander in chief, Julius Malema, and the party leadership.”
She stated that, as a political activist, she would continue to fulfil her duties.
“I will continue to remain outspoken, it is who I am. I will continue to advocate leading a healthy lifestyle, community work and campaigning against the abuse of women and children.”
The Northern Cape Provincial Legislature will meanwhile officially swear in EFF Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL) Shadrack Tlhaole on Wednesday.