‘No structure in KZN is going to be disbanded’ – Malema
Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema has dismissed claims that the party plans to disband structures in KwaZulu-Natal ahead of the party’s upcoming national conference.
In his conference readiness update on Thursday afternoon, Malema confirmed that 1,100 branches have met and concluded their selection of delegates for the December gathering.
Additionally, 1,123 branches were set to meet before the 30 October deadline.
The Red Berets are expected to hold their national conference at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Soweto between December 12th and 15th, under the theme "Defend, rebuild, and advance the struggle for economic freedom."
Following a poor showing at the general elections in May, the party's leadership went on a fact-finding mission in the province, after the EFF only secured 2% of the KZN vote, down from 9% in 2019.
Speaking at the Winnie Mandela House in Marshalltown, Malema said during engagements with the KZN leadership, the central command team (CCT) were satisfied with the level of accountability and acknowledged that none of the leaders had abandoned their responsibilities.
“We had to reflect on what we would have done differently if it were us, given the challenge that these people were facing in KZN. We don’t see any element of laziness, of abandoning structures and organisational work from the leaders of the EFF in KZN.
“The CCT has decided to leave the structures of KZN as intact as they are… so, there’s no structure in KZN that’s going to be disbanded. If it gets disbanded it will not be because of the 2024 elections. It will be on their failure to engage in the rebuilding process that we are engaged in.”
Malema was not as forgiving of the North West leadership, whom he says missed the opportunity to capitalise on the African National Congress’s insecurities over its support in areas like the Bojanala region in Rustenburg.
“The problem is in Bojanala where we lost almost 27,000 votes. We can’t leave that unattended to, and unpunished. Bojanala is a very critical region for us if we want to have an impact in the North West.”
MALEMA: This thing that the Chairpersons of branches and secretaries of branches and regions, think that it is automatic to become a candidate – IT IS NOT. We can even go and fetch a Pastor in your Ward, who is well-respected…#EFFPresser
— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) October 10, 2024
To qualify to hold a branch assembly, the structures were required to have at least 100 members in good standing and have received at least 10% of the votes in the general election.
Delegates attending the conference are expected to deliberate constitutional amendments, review the performance of the current leadership, adopt a new program of action for the next five years, and elect a new leadership.
Malema said delegates from branches that didn’t meet the threshold would be allowed to attend the conference as observers.
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