It’s all systems go for EFF’s elective indaba

All EFF members hoping to contest for national leadership positions will have to be nominated, without exception, says party leader Julius Malema.

Malema and several EFF leaders inspected the Nasrec Expo Centre with journalists yesterday. He said it was all systems go for the party’s elective conference between December 13 and 16.

The EFF is set to announce its new leadership and policy direction during its second conference since its establishment in 2014.

In recent weeks, speculation has been growing about who will stand for the organisation’s top six positions – namely president, deputy president, national chairperson, secretary-general, deputy secretary-general and treasurergeneral. It’s been reported that a number of slates are forming.

Initially it was reported that current chair and legal guru Dali Mpofu would not return to his current position, but later officials in the party spoke anonymously about him possibly challenging Malema, sparking speculation that factions had emerged.

Speaking at site inspection yesterday, Mpofu said there were no factions in the party, The Citizen reported. News24 understands from sources in the party that Malema favours KwaZulu-Natal provincial leader Marshall Dlamini for the position of secretary-general, to replace Godrich Gardee.

The party insiders also said that Gardee was intent on fighting for his position. National spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi has also been touted as a possible replacement for Gardee.

Two party leaders have also indicated that deputy secretarygeneral Hlengiwe Hlophe will not be available for another term. One party official said that little-known Poppy Mailola was on Malema’s ticket to replace Hlophe.

This follows a City Press article in which it was reported that a video shows Mpumalanga chair Collen Sedibe telling branch members the conference at Nasrec was just a formality.

Sedibe further added that treasurer general Leigh-Ann Mathys had voluntarily declined to run again, City Press reported.

Malema told journalists that nominations for party leaders would be taken from the floor to avoid factional battles.

He said all six of the party’s leaders would make themselves available for positions. He said the party was ready to host the elective conference, adding that provinces had signed off their credentials and that branches had concluded their audits.

He said the implementation of 50-50 gender representation on all party structures would be discussed at the conference.

Malema added that 90% of the conference delegates would be from branches and the remainder from regional, provincial and national leadership structures. – News24 Wire