EFF take up council seats

AFTER months of fighting between the ANC and EFF in the Buffalo City Metro council, the “fighters” were allowed to sit through the special council meeting yesterday for the first time since they were inaugurated.

This was thanks to a court order made recently by Judge Selby Mbenenge of the East London High Court when he ruled that the self-titled Economic Freedom Fighters were not allowed to be removed from chambers because of their dress.

Following their inauguration on August 18, eight EFF councillors were forcefully removed from the council chambers each time they attended a council meeting wearing their trademark red overalls, berets and red “makarabas”.

According to BCM speaker Alfred Mtsi, who often called on municipal police officers to remove the councillors, the councillors’ dress was in contravention of the council’s rules approved in August by the new council.

However yesterday, the EFF councillors confidently walked into the council in their red overalls and for the first time since the local government elections, were part of a council discussion.

EFF party leader in council, Chumani Matiwane, said yesterday they were very happy they were finally able sit in a council meeting.

“We are very happy about the ruling although it was not ideal that in our first meeting we walked out because we did not want to be part of approving dodgy sports funding.

“But we are happy we managed to see how they (ANC councillors) do things and how they approve things that are obviously shady,” said Matiwane.

Mtsi said a full report would be given to council on December 14 regarding the “serious matter” that had been taken to court in October. — mamelag@