EFF leaders 'greedy to graduate', but disrupt varsities for others – Nzimande

Cape Town – The Economic Freedom Fighters' leaders were greedy to graduate, but disrupted universities for everybody else, Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande said on Thursday.

"The EFF interrupted education," Nzimande said in Zulu in his closing remarks after most opposition parties had loudly criticised his budget vote speech.

Although there was no clear political movement during last year’s protests against university fee hikes, the EFF on Thursday took credit for fees being frozen for 2017 and the government pulling R2.6bn out the hat to fund the shortfall.

"It worries us because your leader [Julius Malema] graduated, [deputy president] Floyd Shivambu also graduated. [MP and spokesperson Mbuyiseni] Ndlozi is also studying.

"You are greedy, only you must graduate," said Nzimande to huge mirth and thigh slapping in the National Assembly.

Educated EFF leadership

Last year, Nzimande tried unsuccessfully to address students when they stormed Parliament's precinct. He surrendered the megaphone as students booed him and former finance minister, Nhlanhla Nene.

Nzimande once worked alongside some of the EFF's leaders such as Malema and Shivambu when they were in the ANC.

After being branded a buffoon for not passing maths and failing woodwork while at school, Malema graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Unisa in March.

Shivambu holds bachelors, honours and masters' degrees from the University of the Witwatersrand, according to Who's Who SA.

Ndlozi is reading towards a PhD in political sociology at the University of Witwatersrand, according to Parliament's website.

EFF activist, Magdalene Moonsamy, resigned as an MP last year to finish the requirements for becoming a lawyer.

This article first appeared on News24 – see here.