Port Elizabeth - The Economic Freedom Fighters seem to be haunting National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete beyond Parliament.
In a hushed tone, the ANC national chairwoman asked a party supporter: “Who is the EFF mayoral candidate?” Mbete was campaigning for the ruling party at the France informal settlement near KwaZakhele in Nelson Mandela Bay on Thursday morning.
Her first stop was at the shack of resident Mbongeni Mdolomba, 50, who had lived in the area for the past 22 years. He told Mbete they needed houses and proper electrification. “You guys only come here during election time and disappear once we have voted you into power,” he lamented, looking Mbete in the eye.
Deputy mayor Bicks Ndoni took it upon himself to answer Mdolomba, saying R150 million had been set aside to electrify the metro’s informal settlements. Municipal officials, he said, would visit the area next week and table a programme on the way forward.
As the ANC officials were leaving the shack, Mbete turned to Mdolomba, and almost whispering, asked: “Who is the EFF mayoral candidate?”
Speaking to Independent Media later, Mbete said there was nothing untoward about her asking the question. “I’m just curious that’s all. It’s common to be curious.”
Mbete has had a hard time dealing with EFF MPs in Parliament. First, it was their red overalls and hard hats that drew attention; their disregard for protocol and defiance of Mbete’s orders.
These incidents also led to Parliament's white-shirted security enforces clashing with EFF MPs when attempting removing them from the chamber, and even the police being called to storm the House, in one famous incident that was eventually taken all the way to the courts.
Mbete, meanwhile, was confident the ANC would retain the metro on the August 3 municipal elections.
“I have confidence that the ANC will win this metro and I don’t really get worried about the many surveys. I don’t have my complete confidence in them. Our knowledge is about the relationship of the African National Congress and the people, poor people of South Africa for whom the ANC cares most.
All our policies are geared at addressing the challenges of poor people including in this metro. We’ve been working very hard in this place. The ANC never gives up, we can never give up on our people,” she said.
Mbete urged the supporters to go vote ANC first before nursing their babalas on election day.
@luyolomkentane
Elections Bureau