EFF suspends 5 councillors

FIVE King Cetshwayo EFF councillors have been suspended for defying party orders.

The councillors were ordered by the EFF central command team (CCT) to vacate their proportional representative seats at the beginning of this month, but failed to comply.

According to King Cetshwayo Regional Secretary Sabelo Khubisa, the CCT took a resolution that all councillors who received fewer than 100 votes in their wards at the last local government elections must resign.

This would allow the party to deploy individuals who could obtain more votes.

‘Our constitution stipulates that when the upper body structure gives instructions, lower structures need to respect and comply,’ Khubisa said.

‘The party took this action as insubordination. We do not know what made them not comply, which is why they were served with notices last week to appear before the disciplinary committee to give their side of the story.’ Khubisa could not divulge the names, except to say two councilllors are from uMlalazi Municipality, while the others are from Mthonjaneni, uMfolozi, and Nkandla municipalities.

‘These councillors are not allowed to represent the EFF in any municipality as their membership has been suspended until their cases are finalised,’ he said. After November's elections, the EFF voted with the IFP in many hung municipalities including Mthonjaneni and the City of uMhlathuze. Khubisa said he was aware of their agreement with the IFP and understands this could leave their partners vulnerable while they resolve internal issues. ‘They can raise the motion and it will be up to the council to decide on the way forward,’ he said.