The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Limpopo took a decision during its fourth provincial plenum in Polokwane on Saturday to escalate the discussion of Limpopo’s perceived failure to act against corrupt government officials during planned engagement with national structures.
At the time of going to press EFF Provincial Secretary Jossey Buthane said the plenum had expressed concern about the provincial government not dealing with issues of corruption underscored in matters brought to the table by the party in Limpopo. They had therefore taken the decision to approach national structures such as the National Prosecuting Authority, the Special Investigating Unit and the Public Protector, to enquire what was happening in Limpopo, he said. They have witnessed action being taken against alleged corruption in Mpumalanga, North West and Free State and were worried that nothing was being done in Limpopo, according to Buthane. He further stressed that they would want to understand what kind of arrangement existed between the Limpopo government and criminals and if they had been given a green light to continue committing corruption by the national offices of units with crime-fighting and investigative capacity.
Close to 80 delegates from all regions of the province attended the plenum and included members of the Provincial Command Team (PCT), all five Regional Command Teams and the Provincial Student Command Team. The plenum also received Central Command Team (CCT) input which, among others, created a basis for discussions during commissions on issues that mostly centred around character and development, financing the revolution, governance as well as campaigns, programmes and elections.
Saying the plenum went very well, Buthane explained that they had spoken to the revival of the organisation, how to approach elections as well as previous performance during elections and how to improve in future, the need for strong and existing branches across the province, talked about gains made in the Legislature and municipal councils and further discussed lessons from ruling party stalwart Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s life.
With the plenum declaration delegates resolved that the contestation of corruption at all levels of state in the province and in the private sector, in particular within mining companies, would continue.
The declaration emphasised the need for all regions having to go to their peoples’ assemblies before the end of this month and the PCT to its Provincial Peoples’ Assembly before the end of next month, while election programmes should be kick-started with vigour the month thereafter.
The plenum declaration concluded with the statement that determined “taking forward the mandate given in the plenum, the EFF shall ensure that it covers every corner of Limpopo, village to village, township to township, suburb to suburb, kraal to kraal, city to city, and everywhere where there is human life to speak and preach the message of economic freedom in our lifetime. We will use all modes of transport to get to where we should preach the message of economic freedom. We will use bicycles, donkey carts, cars, lorries, trucks, buses, trains, planes, helicopters, ships, boats and all forms of transport spreading the word for economic emancipation in our lifetime.”
Story & photos: YOLANDE NEL
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