EFF’s Mngxitama suspended

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party says it will not engage the media further regarding the suspension of EFF MP and Melville resident Andile Mngxitama and fellow fighter Khanyisile Tshabalala.

“The Central Command Team of the Economic Freedom Fighters has taken a decision to take disciplinary action against Andile Mngxitama and Khanyisile Tshabalala. This is strictly an internal process and we shall not be engaging the media about it beyond this point,” said the party’s national spokesperson Mbuyiseni Quintin Ndlozi in a statement.

“The EFF hopes that members of the media will therefore be patient and allow the process its due space. Similarly, the leadership hopes that fighters Mngxitama and Tshabalala will also cooperate and give the internal process of the organization due respect and attention,” he added.

On Twitter, Mngxitama alleged he was not informed about the suspension.

He tweeted:

https://twitter.com/Mngxitama/status/567365685559713793

Mngxitama’s suspension comes after he allegedly convinced EFF’s national financial accountant Rirhandzu Baloyi to divulge information that would implicate the party’s leadership of misusing funds.

• Rirhanzu Baloyu’s open letter to Andile Mngxitama

In an open letter addressed to Mngxitama, Baloyi accuses him of obtaining information under false pretense, with the help of famous ex-convicts Kenny Kunene and Gayton Mackenzie, as well as a lawyer named Bruce.

Baloyi said he learnt that he was facing imminent arrest with EFF’s Commander-in -Chief Julius Malema and other members for the party’s financial irregularities, which the Hawks got wind of.

“Under duress and in the presence of the two dangerous ex-convicts, worse in their house and the lawyer who had interrogated me, and indicated that I will be arrested soon, I agreed to cooperate and it was confirmed that Hawks will leave me alone I must just meet them for an unofficial statement (sic),” he said in the letter.

Baloyi also implicates City Press Journalist Charles Cilliers, who reported on the party’s financial regularities, stating that he posed as a Hawk during his second meeting with Mngxitama, Kunene and Mackenzie.

Cilliers had written an article on the party’s purchase of a Golf GTI, which was not registered under the party’s name.

In response to Baloyi’s claims, City Press Editor Ferial Haffajee tweeted:

It's absolute misinformation that any journalist of ours posed as a Hawk. Part of a string of fear-based, pre-emptive action by EFF.

— Ferial Haffajee (@ferialhaffajee) February 15, 2015

Mngxitama scheduled a press conference for 11am this morning.

Earlier, Jacaranda FM tweeted that there was chaos outside the venue for Mngxitama’s briefing, with EFF supporters demanding to enter.