Juju warns ambitious EFF members

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) president Julius Malema warned party members with an unbridled lust for power that they risked being disciplined or losing their membership.

Malema said this at Setswetla Informal Settlement when announcing the EFF’s decision to abstain from coalitions in governing hung municipalities, though the party will vote with the DA and other smaller parties in city councils.

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Malema told a press contingent that his party wasn’t lustful for power – and its members should act likewise – as they were attracted to the EFF for its principles and policies which are centred on democracy and commitment to serving communities. He said the EFF would only exercise power that it has been given by the electorate through the polls for the purposes of service delivery and not self-enrichment.

“Members who, therefore, lust for power – which we don’t have – should be warned that we are coming for them for violating our principles,” Malema said in reference to an EFF member of parliament said to have resisted deployment to a provincial role which he regarded as a demotion and loss of a flashy lifestyle.

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Malema stressed that his party had no room for such members, including those already canvassing for positions as proportional representative councillors, and others being lured to defect through false promises by other parties. “To them, the door is open to leave the party, which is no home to opportunists bent on compromising the party principles, ill discipline and introducing a culture of corruption.”

He said the EFF won’t be neutral in their approach, nor act cowardly in the course of upholding their principles which applied to all, including the national executive. “This, in order to help build a brand that will endear us to the public in advance of future elections. We want to earn the position to govern and not via the back door,” Malema said.