EFF 20th Central Command Team media statement
27 August 2023
The Economic Freedom Fighters held its 20th Central Command Team meeting of the 2nd National People's Assembly on the 25th and 26th of August 2023 in Kempton Park, in the City of Ekurhuleni, Gauteng Province. The CCT meeting received detailed reports about the programmes and activities the organisation was involved in as part of celebrating and marking its 10 years of existence as a political formation that is at the forefront of the struggle for economic freedom in our lifetime. The CCT meeting further had extensive engagements on the Road to Victory Manual, which is our strategy towards the 2024 Elections Victory.
The CCT engaged in these critical matters taking into cognizance the fact that in South Africa, State institutions are being abused in protection of one individual, a compromised head of State who is also a Money Launderer. We reject with contempt, the South African Reserve Bank's cover up of the Phala Phala crimes and unlawful smuggling and usage of foreign currencies. We will take the South African Reserve Bank report on Phala Phala dollars to Court for judicial review because there is evidently an attempt to cover up the crimes committed in Phala Phala and State institutions are being abused in protection of the outgoing President of South Africa.
The CCT notes that despite the superficial claim that jobs are being created in South Africa, the reality remains that more than 15 million South Africans who need jobs do not have jobs, and the sitting government does not have any believable and practical plan to end the crisis of unemployment and joblessness. Millions of young people are now at the mercy of crime and illicit drugs because of desperation.
Despite many hollow commitments to end load shedding and bring about electricity stability, there is still no clear programme on how to stabilise electricity generation in South Africa. The sitting government has normalised electricity blackouts in the same manner they have accepted the collapse of basics infrastructure, the prevalence of potholes in our roads, broken windows in municipal buildings, and the overall deterioration of public spaces. Instead of resolving the electricity crisis, the sitting government is going ahead with the mutilation of ESKOM into three different companies with the sole purpose of privatising electricity generation in favour of the greedy domestic and global capitalist interests and demands.
The CCT welcomes the expansion of BRICS into a bloc of progressive and forward-looking countries of the world, which must end the imperialist domination of the world by the West.
The inclusion of Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Argentina into what is now BRICS PLUS SIX is a step in the right direction because it is underpinned and defined by the need for common prosperity and not by the neo-colonial need to exploit the world's natural resources in the same way the imperialist West has been doing. We believe that in addition to the six new countries that will be admitted into BRICS in 2024, there has to be an inclusion of Cuba, Venezuela, Palestine and the Democratic Republic of Congo and all progressives must support BRICS as an alternative to the G7 and NATO War Alliance.
As the Economic Emancipation Movement, which amongst other principles embraces Pan Africanism, we believe that African countries should use our proximity to our friends in BRICS PLUS SIX to pursue the development of pan African infrastructure programmes and projects.
The African continent is still far behind in terms of intra-continental infrastructure and projects that can uplift the lives of our people. The African Union and all African countries should speak in one voice to pursue partnerships that will result in the development of economically beneficial pan African infrastructure such as railway projects and electricity transmission lines that will interlink the entire continent, and bring about electricity and industrial expansion for jobs and economic common prosperity. These are issues we will be raising and placing on top of the agenda during the 16th BRICS PLUS SIX Summit in Russia in 2024.
The Central Command Team reflected on the role the EFF continues to play in governance in Parliament, Provincial Legislatures, and Municipal Councils as an organisation that is in government. The EFF is pleased is that we are making a meaningful impact in government, which is reflected by the service delivery initiatives we are making in municipalities such as Ekurhuleni, Johannesburg, Mogale City, Ethekwini and Nelson Mandela Bay. We will continue to demonstrate to the people of South Africa that the EFF is a capable and willing government that will bring about maximum progress, stability and quality service delivery to our people.
The Central Command Team reflected on the undemocratic and corrupt role Municipal Officials play in councils, and how they effectively undermine the role of democratically elected public representatives. In particular, the EFF noted that the current City Manager of the City of Nelson Mandela Bay, Noxolo Nqwazi is currently out on bail for fraud and mismanagement of municipal funds. On the 01st of June 2023, the EFF called for the immediate resignation of Noxolo Nqwazi who has adverse findings against her which were established by the SIU, the Hawks and the office of the Public Protector in the Eastern Cape.
The EFF will introduce a motion against the City Manager of Nelson Mandela Bay to call for her immediate removal, and there will be no peaceful council sitting in Nelson Mandela Bay, so long as a criminal continues to preside over the finances of the City.
The Central Command Team once again commends and appreciates the selfless work done by all EFF Leadership, structures, and Ground Forces in the excellent execution of all programmes marking the 10th Anniversary of the EFF. The EFF has emphatically demonstrated to the people of South Africa, Africa, and the world that we stand as a formidable political force, which is ready to lead South Africa and all progressive forces in the continent into the future of common prosperity and economic emancipation.
The excellence of our internal systems for mobilisation and organisation reflects our strength as a solid movement. We are therefore emboldened that our organisation is a capable, able, well-structured, and able instrument to bring about change South Africa need today.
The CCT received the final report of EFF Public Representatives who failed to organise for and pay for transport of their constituencies to attend the EFF 10th Anniversary. The CCT takes serious exception on Public Representatives who, having had more than 5 months to organise transport for their constituencies, failed to do so.
In the EFF, all our leaders, all of us inclusive of Public Representatives, are expected to be all-rounders with maximal and unquestioned capacity to organise, mobilise, educate, agitate, and also fundraise for all activities of the organisation. Without these qualities, Public Representatives and Leaders under the EFF cannot be trusted with the lives of our people and the responsibility to be at the forefront against the ruthless white monopoly establishment.
The CCT has therefore resolved to recall all Public Representatives who failed to meet the organisational mandate and obligation in relation to the EFF 10th Anniversary Rally. The recall means that all Councillors, Members of Provincial Legislatures and Members of Parliament who failed to organise for and pay for buses to the 10th Anniversary Celebrations must resign from positions of their deployment with immediate effect.
This resolution is in line with section 14 (9) of the EFF Constitution which says, "the CCT has the powers to recall any deployees of the organisation from any position of deployment including deployment as public representatives". The CCT further resolved to remove from elected structures all leaders who failed to organise for and pay for buses for the 10th Anniversary Celebrations.
The removal is in line with section 14 (10) of the EFF Constitution which says, "the CCT has the power to remove and replace incompetent members of the CCT, PCTs and RCTs". If they are loyal to the cause for economic freedom in our lifetime, the EFF Members who are recalled from deployments and removed from elected structures will remain as members of the organisation but will not be eligible for deployments back to structures they were recalled from.
The Central Command Team had extensive deliberations and discussions on the EFF Road to Victory Manual, which is our strategic and tactical outline detailing how all EFF structures will engage in the lead up to the 2024 General Elections. The EFF Road to Victory Manual presents the phases of our approach to Elections which are 1) the MAYIHLOME PHASE, 2) MAMELA PHASE, and 3) TSHELA THUPA PHASE. Additionally, the EFF Road to Victory Manual presents an in-depth analysis of electoral politics in South Africa and analyses the EFF's continuous qualitative and quantitative growth since its first participation in South Africa's electoral politics in 2014.
What the MAYIHLOME PHASE entails is that all EFF structures are converted into ELECTIONS TASK FORCES, whose primary responsibility will be to organise, mobilise for and coordinate all work in relations to elections. The CCT is therefore converted into the CENTRAL ELECTIONS TASK FORCE (CETF), Provincial Command Teams are converted into Provincial Elections Task Forces (PETFs), Regional Command Teams are converted into Regional Elections Task Forces (RETFs), and this applies to all our Ward based branches and Voting District based structures of the EFF up until the end of elections, and the constitutional structures will be reinstated.
Furthermore, the MAYIHLOME PHASE includes the formation of dedicated elections and mobilisation committees which include the 1) Manifesto Drafting Committee;
2) Communications Committee;
3) Youth and Students Committee,
4) Women Mobilisation Committee,
5) Workers Mobilisation Committee,
6) Voter Registration Committee, and other Committees that will make sure that the EFF has maximal impact in the 2024 Elections.
The MANYIHLOME PHASE has already started and will be concluded on the 7th of September 2023
with all the necessary structures and committees established.
The committees are constituted and led as follows;
a) The Central Elections Task Force will be convened by the President of the EFF, Julius Malema
b) The co-ordinator of the Central Elections Task Force will be the Secretary General of the EFF, Commissar Marshall Dlamini
c) The Manifesto Drafting Committee will be led by the Deputy President of the EFF, Commissar Floyd Shivambu
d) The Cost Centre and Fundraising Committee will be led by the Treasurer General of the EFF, Commissar Omphile Maotwe
e) The Media and Communications Committee will be led by the National Spokesperson of the EFF, Commissar Sinawo Thambo
f) The Mobilisation and Organising Committee will be led by Fighter Patrick Sindane
g) The Food Bank Committee will be led by Commissar Godrich Gardee
h) The Mass Voter Registration Campaign Committee will be led by Commissar Sharon Letlape
i) The Minority Groups Mobilisation Committee will be led by Commissar Nazier Paulsen
j) The Youth and Students Committee will be convened by the President of the EFF Students' Command, Commissar Sihle Lonzi and Co-ordinated by Commissar Nqobile Mhlongo
k) The Women Mobilisation Committee will be convened by the National Chairperson, Commissar Veronica Mente and Co-ordinated by Commissar Mandisa Makesini
l) The Workers Committee will be led by Commissar Hlengiwe Mkhaliphi
Additionally, in line with the establishment of the Central Elections Task Force all provinces will be Convened and Co-ordinated by Members of the Central Command Team, while regions will be convened by members of Provincial Command Teams and CCT members. The deployment is effective immediately as follows;
1. The EASTERN CAPE will be convened by Commissar Nontando Nolutshngu & Co-ordinated by Commissar Sam Matiase
The regions of the Eastern Cape will be led as follows;
ALFRED NZO Region: Thulisile Mlokoti and Mawande Magadla
AMATHOLE Region: Mbali Dlamini and Onga Mpepo
BUFFALO CITY Region: Sam Matise and Mziyanda Hlekiso
SARAH BAARTMAN Region: Paulnita Marais and Litha Zibula
CHRIS HANI Region: Sithembile Madikizela and Lona TshoTsho
NELSON MANDELA Region: Natasha Ntlangwini and Zoleka Qotoyi
OR TAMBO Region: Zilindile Vena and Mzukisi Fukula
JOE QABI Region: Zikhona Njoli and Setlabotjha Moroahae
2. The FREE STATE will be convened by Commissar Thembi Msane and Co-ordinated by Commissar Mandla Shikwambana
The regions of the Free State will be led as follows;
FEZILE DABI Region: Thapelo Mogale and Amelia Tshabalala
LEJWELEPUTSWA Region: Mapheule Coach Liphoko and Shirley Mkhwanazi
MANGAUNG Region: Thembi Msane and Thomas Magcingwane
THABO MOFUTSANYANA Region: Bosanku Msimanga and Mapaseka Motaung
XHARIEP Region: Anthony Matumba and Seipati Nanyane
3. GAUTENG will be convened by Commissar Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi and Co-ordinated by Commissar Leigh-Ann Mathys
The regions of Gauteng will be led as follows;
Ekurhuleni: Leigh-Ann Mathys and Dunga
Johannesburg: Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi and Moshe koma
SEDIBENG: Matshidiso Jeanette and Bethuel Munyai
Tshwane: Mgcini Tshwaku and Obakeng Ramabodu
WEST RAND: Phillip Makwala and Lindiwe Masilela
4. KWAZULU NATAL will be convened by the Deputy President, Floyd Shivambu and Co-ordinated by Commissar Ntokozo Hlonyane
The regions of KwaZulu Natal will be led as follows;
AMAJUBA: Mathapelo Siwisa and Sibusiso Sizani
ETHEKWINI: Ntokozo Hlonyane and Themba Mvumbu
HARRY GWALA: khosi Mkhonto and Ncedo Njenga
ILEMBE: Thabisile Nkosi and Sakhile Zondo
KING CETSHWAYO: Mongezi Twala and Sibusiso Mthinyane
UGU: Hlengiwe Chiliza and Thami Xuma
UMGUNGUNDLOVU: Yazini Tetyana and Mzwakhe Mpulo
UMKHANYAKUDE: Nkululeko Ngubane and Simo Mthembu
UMZINYATHI: Chuma Wakeni and Sanele Nyoka
UTHUKELA: Nosipho Makamba and Mbongeni Shange
ZULULAND: Babalwa Mathulelwa and Thulani Ndlovu
5. LIMPOPO will be convened by Commissar Godrich Gardee and co-ordinated by Commisssar Mabatho Mokause
The regions of Limpopo will be led as follows;
CAPRICORN: Fikile Oortman and Jacob lebogo
MOPANI: Mpusheng Leshabane and Tinyiko Manganyi
SEKHUKHUNE: Tshilidzi Maraga and Meisie Kennedy
VHEMBE: Victor Rambau and Rassie Maepa
WATERBERG: Dr Lawrence Matsitela and Mokwape Ramalobela
6. MPUMALANGA will be convened by the Treasurer General, Omphile Maotwe and co-ordinated by Commissar Reneilwe Mashabela
The regions of Mpumalanga will be led as follows;
BOHLABELO: Jackson Malatjie and Suprise Kubaye
EHLANZENI: Lerato Tito and Sunday Mgiba
GERT SIBANDE: Rhulani Qhibi and Nkateko Ndlovu
NKANGALA: Collen Sedibe and Mpho Morokolo 7.
7. NORTH WEST will be convened by the Deputy Secretary General, Poppy Mailula and co-ordinated by Commissar Papiki Babuile
The regions of the North West will be led as follows;
BOJANALA: Hlengiwe Mkhalapi and Justice Dabampe
DR KENNETH KAUNDA: Laetitia Arries and Mothusi Montwedi
DR RUTH SEGOMOTSI MOMPATI: Primrose Bogatsu and Lesole Malefo
NGAKA MODIRI: Matshidiso Botswe and Simon Maebane
8. NORTHERN CAPE will be convened by Commissar Rebecca Mohlala and Co-ordinated by Commissar Shadrack Hlaole
The regions of the Northern Cape will be led as follows;
FRANCIS BAARD: Keke Konote and Vusi Raphoto
JOHN TAOLO GAETSEWE: Tseko Mafanya and Phenyo Ohentswe
NAMAKWA: Zet Kwinana and Glenda Lepolesa
PIXELY KA SEME: Goitsemodimo Halter and Lesego Mokgalagadi
ZF MAQCAWU/SIYANDA: Jacqueline Botman and Pako Kaotsane
9. WESTERN CAPE will be convened by Commissar Dr. Suzan Thembekwayo and co-ordinated by Commissar Mbulelo Magwala
The regions of the Western Cape will be led as follows;
CAPE METRO: Unathi Ntame and Ntsikelelo Tyandela
CAPE WINELANDS: Nazier Paulsen and Dr. Wandile Kasibe
CENTRAL KAROO: Noluvuyo Tafeni and Niel Low
OVERBERG: Thembile Klaas and Thozama Mangcayi
SOUTHERN CAPE: Noluvuyo Tafeni and Niel Low
WEST COAST: Aisha Cassim and Xolani Tshetu
The 2nd phase of our Elections approach is the MAMELA PHASE, which is the phase where all EFF Ground Forces and the organisation as a whole will LISTEN to all the people of South Africa on what should be included in the People's Manifesto. The People's Manifesto will form the foundation of the EFF's campaign agenda. All the people of South Africa will be presented with an opportunity to contribute to the People's Manifesto, and we will during the period publicly communicate the platforms through which there will be communication and contact with the EFF for submissions to be made. As part of the MAMELA PHASE, all EFF structures at all levels will hold physical consultations with different sectors of society. This will include the following;
1. Meeting with Religious Leaders;
2. Meeting with Traditional Leaders;
3. Meeting with Farmworkers;
4. Meeting with people in the fishing communities;
5. Meeting with Security Guards;
6. Meeting with Mineworkers;
7. Meeting with Former Mineworkers
8. Meeting with Professionals;
9. Meeting with Domestic Workers;
10. Meeting with Farmworkers;
11. Meeting with Students;
12. Meeting with Civil Society;
13. Meeting with the Creative Industry;
14. Meeting with LGBTQI+ Community;
15. Meeting with African Diaspora's Formation;
16. Meeting with the Business Sector;
17. Meeting with Unemployed Youth; and
18. Meeting with Social Grant Beneficiaries.
19. Meeting with People with Disabilities. 20) Meeting with Construction Workers
The MAMELA PHASE will also include holding of seminars—which are one day Conferences of experts and practitioners in a sector to deliberate on the following critical matters:
1) On ELECTRICITY in light of the crises of electricity confronting South Africa.
2) On JOBS in light of the crisis levels of joblessness in South Africa.
3) On CRIME in light of the growing and uncontrollable levels of crime.
4) On the Creative Industry in light of the continued marginalisation of role players in the Creative Industry.
The MAMELA PHASE of our elections campaign and programme will culminate in the launch of the EFF Elections Manifesto in February 2024, which will be the beginning of the last phase we call the TSHELA THUPA PHASE. The TSHELA THUPA PHASE begins with the launch of the PEOPLE'S MANIFESTO and will be defined by aggressive and intense campaigning which will be centred on the principle of Person-to-Person; Umuntu Emuntwini. Our campaign will be centred on speaking to our people directly because we are convinced of the superiority of our solutions and ideas. We cannot and will never be afraid of speaking to our people about their aspirations and demands because the PEOPLE'S MANIFESTO will be articulating their aspirations and demands.
The EFF notes the election results of Zimbabwe, which were won by the ZANU-PF. The EFF is of the firm belief that the elections were not free and fair, but welcomes the fact that there was an absence of violence as an improvement, as elections in Zimbabwe are ordinarily characterised by violence.
All Ground Forces of the EFF must understand and internalise the fact that at the centre of our elections programme and campaign is of Person-to-Person; IJmuntu Emuntwini. All Ground Forces are called into action and full-time dedication. We must all dedicate all weekends, starting on Friday, strictly to engagements with our people, and no internal meetings should sit when we have an obligation to interact with our communities.
We are entering this election season with aim of outright victory, and that is why we are not bordered by right wing coalitions and attempts of the ruling party to determine the contents of their exit from power. We are and remain the future of South Africa.
Issued by Sinawo Thambo, National Spokesperson, EFF, 27 August 2023
