Fired KZN EFF staff back after appeal

Dismissed in August for various infringements

FIVE EFF members in KwaZulu-Natal, who were dismissed by the party’s provincial leadership, have been reinstated after they appealed to the party’s national office.

Fourteen EFF members – 11 councillors and three regional leaders – were fired in August for various infringements.

Nine members appealed to the party’s national offices and hearings were held in Braamfontein last week.

The national body confirmed the dismissals of four councillors, and dismissed the charges against four councillors and a regional leader.

The dismissals for the remaining five who did not appeal to the national body, would stand.

Some of the members said the overturning of their cases supported their argument that they were fired on trumped-up charges.

They faced numerous charges including allegations of corruption, failure to participate in the party’s activities including election campaigns and “double dipping”.

Double dipping refers to a politician earning a salary for holding a professional government job while also receiving a salary as a councillor in a municipality.

“The cases were dismissed and no other sanctions were imposed. That clearly shows that the motive by the provincial structure to expel us was not based on any infringements of the party’s procedures but was motivated by a desire to remove us so the provincial leaders could put their own people there,” said one councillor.

Another councillor said the dismissals were an attempt of a “purge” by the provincial leaders that failed.

“They are aligning forces as the party head to the elective conference at the end of the year,” the councillor said.

EFF provincial chairperson Vusi Khoza said three of the fired councillors committed serious offences.

“Two were double dipping. We told them to choose one job and they did not. The other was facing accusations of corruption and self-enrichment,” Khoza said.

He said those who were dismissed had one last opportunity to appeal their dismissal at the People’s Assembly, the party’s elective conference in December.

He denied that the dismissals were an attempt of a purge.

“These are councillors. They are ordinary members, why would they be impacted by the election of national leaders? Some of these councillors contravened party processes. When they joined, they agreed to participate in the party’s processes including during the elections, but when the party needs them to campaign, they switch off their cellphones. Who are they representing then,” he said.