Battle of newcomers as Agang SA takes on EFF

JUST a month after AgangSA leader Mamphela Ramphele attacked the Economic Freedom Fighters’ (EFF’s) Julius Malema — likening him to Adolf Hitler — Agang is gearing up for a contest over economic policy.

It now turns out that the EFF, in its campaign for a radical economic shift in SA, faces competition from Agang as both political parties prepare to take part in the elections for the first time next year.

However, Agang’s approach would be “calculated and careful”, in contrast to the EFF’s talk of nationalisation of mining and land expropriation without compensation.

The EFF and Agang are expected to appeal to voters on the opposite sides of the ideological spectrum, with Ms Ramphele seen as a conservative and Mr Malema a militant leftist.

Agang head of policy Mills Soko said at a media briefing yesterday that the party’s economic policy proposals would bring about the radical changes. Mr Soko said the policies would be ready by the end of next month. He spoke as Agang paraded a group of new members who had come from the EFF.

“We do agree with the assessment that SA is faced with a political and economic crisis, and new radical policies are necessary,” said Mr Soko.

EFF spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlosi said the party also had thousands of members who came from existing organisations.

“But because we do not suffer from an attention-seeking syndrome, we never announce where our members come from,” Mr Ndlosi said in a statement. He also said the EFF’s programmes had, in just three months, gained popularity.

Pule Matshitshe, a former leader of the EFF in Gauteng, said the group joining Agang had left the EFF because they wanted leaders with integrity, accountability and transparency.

Agang political director Moeketsi Mosola said aside from joining Agang based on its merits, the new recruits also brought numbers with them.

“We do expect that our new members will respect the values of our party,” Mr Mosola said.

However, a young man from Thokoza said he had been brought to the event without understanding why. “I wish people would have been honest about the reason they brought us here.”

He said he was playing football when he was picked up for the Agang event in Braamfontein.

Mr Soko said Agang was committed to a radical restructuring of SA’s economy and politics.