The EFF’s president, Julius Malema, has told the community of Ward 11 in Nkomazi that the world will know and always remember their councillor, Mafia Fane, as a young and energetic leader who worked without the budget of the municipality. Malema made these assertions after learning that the Nkomazi Local Municipality had allegedly not included this ward in the Integrated Development Plan for this fiscal period.
The EFF snatched this ward away from the ANC last year in October after the highly contested by-elections. The party won this ward with 57.7% of the votes, making Fane the first-ever EFF ward councillor in Mpumalanga. Fane had briefed Malema that the local municipality deliberately excluded Ward 11 simply because it no longer belonged to the ANC.
“As I drove in this village, we were met with dilapidated roads and I could see Fane had tried to patch the potholes, but the rain came and washed it away. My brother, never get tired and don’t ever give up. One day, freedom will come to Ward 11. Our people will know that they have elected a young and energetic person who has put our ward and villages on the map of the country, continent and the world. The whole world will one day know that there is a councillor who worked tirelessly to improve the lives of the people, and he did it without the budget of the local municipality,” said Malema.
Also read: SAPS name provincial admin clerk murdered near Barberton
He was addressing throngs of EFF members and community members of Ward 11 during the Siyanqoba rally in Hhoyi on Saturday, October 28.
Malema’s visit started in Ward 13 in Ermelo in the Msukaligwa Local Municipality, where the party had just won another ward during the by-elections of October 13.
This became the EFF’s second ward.
“Fighter Mafia Fane’s victory opened the way for all the wards and for the people to start voting for the EFF in Mpumalanga. After being voted into this position, he came back and continued working for the people. As we speak, he provides all the gogos and mkhulus with transport during grant collection days. He is living and leading according to the EFF code that says we don’t make promises, but we make it our lifestyle to live to serve our people,” continued Malema.
Also read: Bushbuckridge family questions DNA results of newborn
He also took a swipe at party members who join the EFF for positions, warning them that their days were numbered.
“Some of you are with us because of positions; if the position goes, you leave with it. We don’t need position mongers here – we need ground forces, disciplined and committed to serve the poorest of the poor. When people like Ngrayi comes and join the EFF, position mongers become scared that he will take their positions. No one has a position here. Ngrayi is a member of the EFF, and if you don’t like it, the door is open. We don’t want gatekeepers here,” Malema said.
