Grand plans in the EFF’s charter

483 11.07.2013 Commander in chief of Economic Freedom Fighter, Julius Malema speaking at the press conference were he announced the new national and provincial party's committees, held at Constitutional Hill, Johannesburg on 11, Thursday, 11 July 2013. Picture: Motshwari Mofokeng

483 11.07.2013 Commander in chief of Economic Freedom Fighter, Julius Malema speaking at the press conference were he announced the new national and provincial party's committees, held at Constitutional Hill, Johannesburg on 11, Thursday, 11 July 2013. Picture: Motshwari Mofokeng

Published Jul 12, 2013

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Johannesburg - According to the Economic Freedom Fighters’ charter unveiled at a media briefing at Constitution Hill in Joburg on Thursday, the organisation is a “radical, left, anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist movement with an internationalist outlook anchored by popular grassroots formations and struggles”.

Julius Malema's party would be the “vanguard” of community and workers’ struggles and “always be on the side of the people”.

“EFF will be the vanguard of community and workers’ struggles and will always be on the side of the people. EFF will, with determination and consistency, associate with the protest movement in South Africa, and will also join in struggles that defy unjust laws,” the charter said.

“EFF also embraces the radical (not the neo-liberal) interpretation of the Freedom Charter, which says South Africa should belong to all who live in it through equal distribution of South Africa’s wealth and heritage”.

The party embraced the following values and principles:

* Human dignity, the achievement of equality and the advancement of human rights and freedoms.

* Non-racialism and non-sexism.

* Universal adult suffrage, a national common voters roll, regular elections and a multiparty system of democratic government, to ensure accountability, responsiveness and openness.

Key “non-negotiable pillars” are:

* Expropriation of South Africa’s land without compensation for equal redistribution.

* Nationalisation of mines, banks and other strategic sectors of the economy, without compensation.

* Building state and government capacity, which would lead to the abolishment of tenders.

* Free quality education, health care, houses and sanitation.

* Massive protected industrial development to create millions of sustainable jobs, including the introduction of minimum wages to close the wage gap between the rich and the poor.

* Massive development of the African economy and advocating for a move from reconciliation to justice on the entire continent.

* Open, accountable, corrupt-free government and society without fear of victimisation by state agencies.

Apart from Malema and Mpho Ramakatsa, its national leaders, known as the national command team, included: Floyd Shivambu, Kenny Kunene, Sam Tshabalala, Fana Mokoena, Pabane Moteka, Hlayiseka Chawane, Sipho Mbatha, Mandisa Makesini and Hlengiwe Hlophe.

Its team of largely unknown provincial leaders, known as the provincial central command teams, are Gauteng convener Pule Matshitshe, and co-ordinators Parks Khaiyane and Lufuno Gogoro; KwaZulu-Natal convener Reggie Ngcobo and co-ordinator Nathi Phewu; Free State convener Sam Matiase and co-ordinator Willy Tshabalala; Northern Cape convener Mbuyiselo Matebus and co-ordinator Adri Noble.

In the Western Cape, Gcobani Nozongana and Lephallo Mahoto are convener and co-co-ordinator respectively; convener Michael Mathebe and co-ordinator George Raphela are in charge of Limpopo.

The Eastern Cape is convened by Themba Kiro and co-ordinated by Pumza Ntobongwana; Mpumalanga and North West by Ayanda Tshabalala and Alfred Motsi, with Dumisani Ncongwane and Papiki Babuile as co-ordinators respectively.

The Star

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