EFF MPs ‘instructed to resign’
THE NORTHERN Cape may be without EFF representatives in Parliament, after EFF MP Mmabatho Mokause was apparently summoned to secretary-general Godrich Gardee’s office yesterday afternoon.
According to sources at EFF headquarters, Mokause and fellow EFF MP Sipho Mbatha were served with letters by the EFF central command team on Tuesday, instructing them to “resign immediately” from the National Assembly.
Although the MPs have not been charged, the reasons provided apparently cited “laziness and under performance” as well as a failure to add value to the growth of the movement and deployments.
Mokause confirmed that she would attend a meeting with the EFF secretary-general yesterday, but indicated that she was not at liberty to divulge any further details.
She will remain as a member of the EFF executive committee should she resign.
Gardee would neither confirm nor deny the meeting yesterday.
He questioned the media as to where the information regarding yesterday’s meeting, where the two MPs were summoned to his office, was obtained from.
“Who told you that? Go and ask those people who told you,” he stated before slamming down the phone.
EFF provincial leader Aubrey Baartman stated that he was not able to comment on “national issues”.
He indicated that former ANC Youth League firebrand Shadrack Tlhaole would return from Parliament to the Northern Cape as an EFF Member of the Provincial Legislature next week.
Spokesperson for the Office of the Speaker, Mpho Masina, stated that the media would be informed regarding any swearing-in of any member of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature.
Some EFF members meanwhile believe that Mokause and Mbatha are being targeted as they are said to be outspoken and dare to stand up to EFF commander in chief Julius Malema.
This also follows the three-year suspension of EFF provincial secretary George Nykama’s membership of the party after he was found guilty at an internal disciplinary hearing of misappropriating party funds.
Trumped up charges
Nykama had previously stated that he was removed on trumped up charges to make way for Tlhaole.
Mokause, who is a founding member of the EFF in the Northern Cape and is regarded as someone who is outspoken and “does not hold back for anyone”, is said to have aspirations to contest against Tlhaole in the upcoming EFF provincial elective conference, ahead of the 2019 national general elections.
EFF sources believed that Mokause, who has been very vocal about women’s rights, is being targeted for her outspoken manner.
“Mokause is not scared to take on Julius, which is not entertained by the party. He only wants ‘yes’ men and women. Once Thlaole and Mokause are removed there will be no EFF members from the Northern Cape in Parliament.”