Free State - The race for the EFF’s top six positions proved a no contest on Sunday night with a general consensus the norm during at the party’s inaugural elective conference in Bloemfontein.
Malema’s position as the president was, just like those of his fellow EFF executives, sealed as early as during the nomination process, when he was nominated unopposed.
In what seemed a daring move, one of the delegates nominated less known Phake Mokabe from Bothaville in the Free State to challenge Malema, but this was met by murmurs and laughter of protestation and scorn from some of the estimated 4 000 delegates who packed the University of the Free State’s great hall.
The cold reaction to Mokabe’s nomination prompted the presiding officer Moses Matsitsa to leap to his (Mokabe’s) defence.
“I want to protect you so that you are treated with dignity,” Matsitsa said.
This did little to encourage Mokabe. He immediately declined his nomination, sparking a rapturous applause.
The same pattern followed the nominations for the remainder of the top six positions as the electoral process seemed nothing more than a formality. Malema’s right hand man and the EFF’s chief whip in Parliament Floyd Shivambu was also was overwhelmingly nominated unopposed as his deputy.
The only relative contest, if any, appeared to come during the nominations for the secretariat position with the outgoing national convener Mpho Ramakatsa challenging Godrich Gardee. It ended disastrously for Ramakatsa, after he failed to muster the mandatory 30 percent threshold to stand for the elections.
Former Cope regional deputy secretary Hlengiwe Hlophe was nominated unopposed as Gardee’s deputy, after Andile Mngxitama declined his nomination.
Former ANC Youth League NEC member Magdaline Moonsamy was also uncontested in the position for the treasurer-general, while Dali Mpofu is became the EFF’s founding national chairman.
With the top positions decided during the nomination process, the voting process was all but summarily rendered irrelevant.
Some delegates started trickling out of the hall towards the conclusion of the nomination process, prompting Matsitsa to issue an order that the exit points be shut out of fear of the negative publicity about the top six’s positions being seemingly sealed before the conference started.
Sunday night’s nomination process proved a humiliation for Ramakatsa, who had only a few hours ago exuded confidence as he presented the EFF’s organisational report, according to a member of the regional command team (RCT) from Ramakatsa’s home province of Free State, who attended the session.
“The guy looked upbeat as he went through his report.
It was such a shame seeing him lose with such an overwhelming majority,” said the RCT member.
Earlier, Malema tore into the ANC-led government, saying South Africa was in a crisis because the governing party had abandoned the transformational agenda to the expediency of persona benefit and corruption.
“South Africa will be turned into a Kleptocracy, with government leaders openly looting state resources and pursuing self-enrichment, and classifying reports and processes that seek to expose such ruthless behaviour. Those around the current state President will get richer and more corrupt because they will know that like him, they are immune from prosecution,” Malema said, while delivering his opening address.
Malema accused the government of compromising South Africa’s foreign policy to personal interests and betraying Muammar Gaddafi.
“Since Jacob Zuma surrendered the life of Brother Leader Gaddafi to imperialist murderers, Africa is lacking of a pan-African voice which should unite all progressive forces. Gaddafi's death has surrendered our continent to even intense exploitation by imperialist forces.”
The EFF managed to pull off a peaceful and orderly elective conference, amid fears of disruptions by some disgruntled members. Malema warned against the “anarchists and staff riders” intent on hijacking the interest for personal gain.
Leading up to the four-day conference, some regional conferences, notably in the Northern Cape, Western Cape and North West, have been marred by acts of violence and intimidation. The Northern Cape had the worst case, with some delegates arriving at the regional conference brandishing pangas, machetes and bricks.
Malema also warned against “careerists, spies and information peddlers” who could infiltrate the party with the intention to enrich themselves or destroy the organisation.
- The Star