Malema promises land, free basic services at EFF-run municipalities

EFF leader Julius Malema vowed to deliver basic municipal services, with an emphasis on free water and electricity for indigent households.

Malema was met by a sea of red at Gandhi Square, less than 200 metres from the doors of the party's new headquarters in downtown Johannesburg.

He told supporters that the party was a viable alternative for efficient governance at the level of local government.

They key themes in the EFF's manifesto included the creation of jobs and economic opportunities, access to education, healthcare and as well as land.

"Every EFF municipality will have its own municipal land reform plan outlining municipal based land reform targets. These targets will be aimed at resolving urban land hunger in urban and peri-urban municipalities and ensuring access to land for housing, urban agriculture, and black-led industrial activities. In rural municipalities, these targets will be focused on increasing agricultural production and providing land for housing," Malema told the roaring crowd.

"Every EFF municipality will formalise all informal settlements under its jurisdiction and ensure that these areas are provided with services and properly zoned to ensure that houses can be built in these areas in short to medium term."

The party, formed in 2013, is contesting local government elections for the second time.

Now one of the biggest parties in Parliament, the EFF has often openly criticised the governing ANC for "incompetent leadership" and the official opposition DA for "anti-poor policies".

Malema told supporters the party would be the exception to the rule among the three big parties.  

"In every EFF municipality, households which depend on social grants will qualify for free basic services without having to register on the indigent database. EFF will continue to fight for the increase of social grants. Every EFF municipality will communicate or make it known that people who receive social grants will automatically qualify for free basic services without any registration process. 

"Every EFF municipality will build capacity that will include social workers to conduct home visits, document, and profile all indigent households to ensure they receive all free basic services and social grants by June 2022. Every EFF municipality will allocate councillors to indigent households that will ensure that each household has access to free basic services by January 2022."

Malema vowed to supporters that the party would deploy sober-minded leaders to EFF-run municipalities.

"Councillors in every EFF municipality will submit a quarterly report detailing the number of indigent households who receive free basic services.

"All EFF councillors will know their communities, neighbours and details of the challenges that confront people. All EFF councillors will keep a record of indigent families in their ward to ensure that they receive basic services such as, water, electricity, and social grants," he added.

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