EFF media statement following the 17th Central Command Team meeting
5 December 2022
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) held its 17th Central Command Team (CCT) Meeting from the 02 of December to the 04 of December 2022. The CCT, which is the highest decision-making body of the EFF between National Peoples' Assemblies, was appraised of the work of the organisation over the past quarter, and deliberated over the prevailing domestic and international conditions confronting society.
Importantly, the CCT meeting reflected on the key objectives of the organisation over the past year, including the I Million Membership Campaign. When we were celebrating the growth of the EFF in KwazuIu-NataI, eThekwini, on the 8th of January earlier this year, we made a commitment that we were going to recruit one million active members. The campaign to recruit one million active and dependable members was born out of the theme of the 2nd National People's Assembly, "Consolidating the Ground Towards Socialist Power," and to ensure that the EFF is represented in every corner of South Africa.
The campaign was officially launched on the 18th of February at Hector Petersen Square in Soweto. As part of the program, we gave all EFF branches, all EFF sub-regions, and all EFF regions and provinces their own target based on the voting population and past performance.
We are happy to announce that all regions and provinces have reached their target.
As a result, the EFF has reached its target of one million members. Today, as we speak, the EFF has a total of 1,085,843 (one million, eighty five thousand, eight hundred and forty three) paid up members in good standing. We are even happier that we have exceeded the target by more than 85,000 members.
The Eastern Cape had a target of 130 173 members, and they exceeded the target by more than 7 000 members.
The Free State had a target of 61 544 members, and they have exceeded the target by more than 4 000 members.
Gauteng Province had a target of 226 568 members, and they have exceeded the target by more than 17000 members
KwazuIu-NataI Province had a target of 195 298 members, and they exceeded the target by more than 9 000 members.
Limpopo had a target of 124 480 members, and they exceeded the target by more than 23 000 members.
The Province of Mpumalanga had a target of 74 413 members, and they exceeded the target by just under 3 000 members.
North West Province had a target of 69 748 members, and they exceeded the target by more than 13 000 members.
The Northern Cape had a target of 38 865 members, and they have exceeded the target by more than 3 000 members.
The Western Cape had a target of 110 188 members, and they have exceeded the target by more than 3 000 members.
We take this opportunity to congratulate all the commissars and ground forces for their dedication, and hard work under difficult and demanding conditions.
We take this opportunity to congratulate the province of Limpopo for exceeding the target by more than 23%.
We congratulate Capricorn region exceeded the target by more than 9, 000 members.
We congratulate members.
We congratulate Sekhukhune Region which exceeded the target by more than 8, 000 members.
We congratulate Vhembe Region which exceeded the target by more than 1 ,OOO members.
We congratulate Waterberg Region which members.
We also want to take this opportunity to congratulate the province of North-West who also exceeded their target by more than 20%.
In Bojanala Region the target was exceeded by nearly 5, 000 members.
Dr Kenneth Kaunda Region exceeded the target by nearly 200 members.
Ngaka Modiri Molema Region exceeded the target by nearly 3, 000 members.
While Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati exceeded the target by more than 5 000 members.
What is encouraging about the one million membership campaign is that we have four provinces with more female members than male members: the Eastern Cape, Kwazulu-Natal, Limpopo, and the Western Cape. In the North West and Northern Cape, 49% of members are female.
The membership in terms of age, language demographics, and race demonstrates that the campaign was able to achieve its intended objective of having the EFF represented in every corner of South Africa.
This monumental achievement, which represents the first genuine and credible initiative to build an organic peoples' movement in South Africa post the democratic dispensation, was made possible by the dedication and commitment of leaders and members of the EFF across all of our structures. The EFF now has verifiable membership across the length and breadth of the country, which form part of a 1 Million Battalion that will be the shield of our people and ensure that the EFF achieves decisive electoral victory in the 2024 National and Provincial General Elections.
The greatest task now, is converting the quantitative strength of the EFF into quality, and this will require mass-based political education and ensuring that all 1 Million members of the EFF understand and comprehend the policies of the EFF and are able to advance and defend the agenda of Economic Freedom in Our Lifetime. Accordingly, the EFF has resolved that the year 2023 will be characterised by massive political education campaigns and voter registration. The electoral victory of the EFF, as well as the integrity and sustainability of the democratic project in South Africa is dependent on the elimination of voter apathy.
As such the EFF as a vanguard of the interests of society will ensure that all people of South Africa who are eligible to vote are registered, and will further explore legislative means to implement automatic voter registration for all citizens who are of an eligible age to vote. The tedious process of registering to vote is an added disincentive to voting, which must be eliminated if democracy in South Africa is to retain its legitimacy.
In the year 2023, the EFF will celebrate the 10th Anniversary of its formation, at FNB Stadium in the province of Gauteng. This festival of the poor will mark 10-years of selfless struggle and commitment to the liberation of our people from economic slavery and landlessness. All ground forces are encouraged to begin spreading the message of the festival of the landless now, and mobilise society to celebrate the existence of the EFF in the face of imperialist intimidation and media propaganda.
The EFF welcomes the report by the Independent Panel, which has been established in terms of Section 89 of the Constitution of South Africa to explore whether there is prima facie evidence to proceed with an impeachment process on Cyril Ramaphosa,
for the crimes he committed on Phala Phala Farm. Cyril Ramaphosa has been found to have done the following violations;
1. A serious violation of sections 96(2)(a) of the Constitution
2. A serious violation of section 34(1) of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act (PRECCA)
3. A serious misconduct in that the President violated section 96(2)(b) by acting in a way that is inconsistent with his office.
4. A serious misconduct in that the President violated section 96(2)(b) of the Constitution by exposing himself to a situation involving a conflict between his official responsibilities and his private business. of the Constitution.
The EFF commends the Independent Panel, led by Justice Sandile Ngcobo for producing a comprehensive and concise report within a relatively understandable period of time. It shows that the esteemed judges and legal practitioners involved understood the gravity of the task before them and respected the people of South Africa enough to produce a report of quality in a timely manner.
In light of the speed and quality work of the Independent Panel, the EFF condemns the law enforcement agencies and financial regulators, namely the the Office of the Acting Public Protector, the South African Revenue Services (SARS), the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), who have not released any findings or reports on the crimes committed at Phala Phala Farm. It is shameful that these entities are making no progress on the Phala Phala matter and reveals how deeply Ramaphosa has compromised the institutions of this country.
The EFF rejects with contempt the co-ordinated campaign by the media, which is attempting to discredit the outcomes of the Independent Panel and cast aspersions on the integrity of members of the Panel itself. It is of particular concern that a legal professional who is a woman is being doubted and discredited by a captured media fraternity, simply because she has represented individuals in the past in accordance to the guides and principles of the legal profession. Society must reject the campaign by the hypocritical civil society, media and so-called religious society, who want to create an impression that the removal of the corrupt President of South Africa represents the collapse of the country.
The Republic of South Africa is founded on constitutionalism and the rule of law, not on the continued Presidency of Cyril Ramaphosa, and the constitution and rule of law must not be doubted and disrespected simply because a favourite of the establishment has now been found to have broken the law. Cyril Ramaphosa has violated his oath of office and the Constitution of South Africa, and he must be removed as a matter of urgency.
We note the reports that Cyril Ramaphosa intends to take the report of the Independent Panel on judicial review, and view this move as desperate and as a further disrespect of South African people and the Constitution. It reveals that Ramaphosa is arrogant in his criminality, because he is the one who has conceded to breaching the laws of this country, such as engaging in paid work while a President and failing to report the theft of his laundered money to the relevant law enforcement agencies.
The EFF reiterates the view of the Independent Panel, which illustrated that the evidence of Cyril Ramaphosa regarding Phala Phala Farm must be approached with caution, and this is logical because he has a propensity of lying and misleading investigative agencies. The EFF will thoroughly expose Ramaphosa on the 61h of December 2022, as a money launderer who is part and parcel of a criminal underworld which erodes the economy of this country and violates laws in order to enrich himself.
The EFF, along with the majority of opposition parties calls for the following, ahead of the Parliamentary sitting of Parliament on the 6th of December;
a) Parliament must be physically convened to vote for the impeachment process to commence when we convene on the 6th of December 2022. The reason for physically convening Parliament is to avoid a situation in which represented political parties lock up Members of Parliament in private venues that are not protected and secure for Parliament and all of its members.
b) Political parties and all Members of Parliament must vote for the impeachment process to commence because not doing so is not sensible and will not pass the rationality test. Voting against the Section 89 Independent Panel's recommendations will be a violation of Parliament's constitutional obligation to hold the executive accountable, and previous rulings of the Constitutional Court have condemned Parliament's lack of oversight and vigilance over the executive.
c) The EFF along with other opposition parties has resolved that in addition to the Section 89 impeachment process, we will request the Democratic Alliance, the official leader of the opposition, to table a motion of no confidence against Mr. Ramaphosa on the basis of the prima facie evidence that he committed serious violations of the Constitution and laws of the Republic.
d) If the Democratic Alliance, which is the 2nd largest political party in parliament, is unable to table the motion of no confidence, the Economic Freedom Fighters, which is the 3rd largest political party in parliament, will table the Motion of No Confidence against Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa before the sitting of the National Assembly on the 6th of December 2022
e) The EFF will explore legal avenues to compel the office of the Acting Public Protector, the South African Reserve Bank and the National Prosecuting Authority to release their respective reports and findings regarding the crimes committed at, and in relation to Phala Phala Farm
The above process is the only way in which appropriate accountability will be achieved and the sanctity of the Constitution of this country will be preserved.
The EFF is concerned by the high levels of crime confronting South African society, as well as the rise of assassinations which have become a norm even outside the political terrain. It is alarming that there have been over 7000 murders in South Africa between July and September 2022, a statistic that reveals that this country is in a state of war. There needs to be a purposeful change in the leadership of the South African Police Services (SAPS), if the scourge of crime is to be stopped.
The EFF is further concerned by the continued plague of Gender Based Violence, which is becoming worse on a daily basis. The women of South Africa are being victimised and live in constant fear, of rape, abuse and murder even in their own homes. The EFF maintains that there needs to be specialised courts for GBV cases and a review of how police stations and police handle matters of Gender Based Violence. Too often, our police stations turn away victims of GBV, and attempt to mediate abusive situations at the expense of victims. Law enforcement must be sensitive to issues of abuse and never be complicit in allowing perpetrators to get away with their crimes.
The EFF has noted the high levels of unemployment in South Africa, which are made worse by an economy which is crippling the ability of our people to afford basic means of survival. The people of South Africa live and work to survive and their income only goes towards their transportation to go to work. The EFF maintains that this government has no verifiable plan to create jobs, and the misery of African people will continue, because this government has a naïve dependency on the private sector to create jobs, while the only objective of the private sector is to accumulate profit.
The condition of State Owned Enterprises, which are being auctioned off by the current government is worrying. South Africa has become a country of darkness, as electricity has become a luxury of those who can afford generators, while ordinary people have no reliable access to electricity. Denel, SAA, PRASA, ESKOM, Transnet, the South African Post Office (SAPO) are all in a state of financial and operational collapse, because those who are leading this county have no desire for this country's sovereignty and independence. The removal of the ANC from government has become urgent, because the route it has taken to destroy SOE's means that future generations will have nothing to inherit but debt and slavery to a greedy private sector.
The EFF maintains that if there is to be any progress made to build the South African economy, there must be a meaningful transformation of the financial and banking sector. As things stand, the banks of South Africa are part and parcel of the massive tax evasion, money laundering and illicit financial flows that characterise the South African economy and erode our currency.
The financial sector has become another avenue to fight political battles, and those opposed to the establishment are punished by having their bank accounts closed due to their political views. There is an urgent need to transform this sector, and at the centre of this is the nationalisation of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB). The Reserve Bank sits at the centre of the economic misery confronting our people and must have its mandate and powers changed to ensure that it guides progressive change in financial laws and policies.
The EFF reiterates that we reject the sell-out and anti-revolutionary decision to release the killer of Chris Hani, Janusz Walus'. Janusz Walus' took South Africa to the brink of a civil war on the eve of democracy and has left a gaping wound on the progress of our society, by killing a man who was dedicated to the liberation of African people.
The pain Walus' caused to South Africa and its people, has stalled progress post-democracy and possibly stunted the gains of the revolution for generations. It is for this reason that his release must be opposed by all people who appreciate the sacrifices made for our freedom.
The EFF will explore all means possible to ensure that Janusz Walus' rots in jail, because the confidence and audacity of white supremacists, will be entrenched if they know that they can kill the leaders of a liberation struggle, without severe consequences. The release of Janusz Walus' is indicative of the need to further transform the judiciary, and make it responsive to the historical challenges confronting African people.
Our judiciary is in a state of compromise, because the Ramaphosa regime has turned it into an instrument to defend their corruption by capturing judges. The political capture of the judiciary through judges must be fought, to ensure that our laws are applied in the interests of fairness and justice, and not to protect corruption, racism and the benefactors of colonial conquest.
The EFF sends its well wishes to all matriculants who have recently concluded their examinations, under difficult conditions of rolling electricity blackouts and unreliable Basic Education sector. We encourage all matriculants to pursue qualifications in the tertiary sector, namely in Universities and Technical and Vocational and Education and Training (TVET) colleges. South Africa is in need of an educated and skilled youth to ensure that the country is industrialised and is able to pioneer knowledge production in the continent.
From the 3rd of January 2023, the EFF Students' Command (EFFSC) will be stationed in all campuses across South Africa, embarking on the #SizofundaNgenkani Campaign. No student will be excluded from accessing higher education, housing or their qualifications due to money or debt, and any student of learner who wants to study must look for the Red T-shirt of the EFF for assistance.
The EFF encourages all voters in Ditsobotla Local Municipality in the North West, and Mkhondo Municipality in Mpumalanga to come out in their numbers to vote for the EFF. All 20 wards in Ditsobotla will be going to by-elections, along with 5 wards in Mkhondo on the 14th of December 2022. Our people must utilise this opportunity to vote for change, in the same way the people of Ward 11 in Nkomazi in Mpumalanga , Ward 3 in Phokwane in the Northern Cape, Ward 05 in Mahikeng in the North West and Ward 29 in West Rand, Gauteng did when they voted decisively for the EFF.
The gains made by the EFF in the year 2022 are commendable and we salute all ground forces for their sacrifices in the war for Economic Freedom. We encourage all the people of South Africa to be safe on our roads, and have a festive season characterised by sharing with those who are unfortunate.
Statement issued by the EFF, 5 December 2022
