News24.com | EFF cuts ties with IFP over power sharing in coalition municipalities

EFF leader Julius Malema at the EFF press briefing on Sunday.

• The EFF has cut ties with the IFP, calling them arrogant for not wanting to share leadership positions. 
• It will support motions of no confidence in all IFP mayors in the municipalities.
• According to EFF leader Julius Malema, all EFF deputy mayors have been asked to resign.

EFF leader Julius Malema says the party has cut all ties with the IFP.

In a press briefing on Sunday, Malema said the EFF would initiate and support motions of no confidence in all IFP mayors in the municipalities in which they previously voted with them.  

This is after the parties met earlier this month to discuss a balance in terms of power-sharing in coalition municipalities.

These include the Zululand, Amajuba, Uthukela, Umkhanyakude and King Cetshwayo district municipalities, as well as the Ulundi, Nongoma, Mtubatuba, uMhlathuze, Jozini, Dannhauser, Alfred Duma, Nkosi Langalibalele, Abaqulusi, Uphongolo and Umhlabauyalingana local municipalities. 

Malema said the EFF would make sure the IFP was removed from all positions of responsibility in all Gauteng municipalities.

"We have communicated this with the leadership of the IFP and have instructed EFF deputy mayors to resign … and remain as ordinary councillors. 

"The IFP has unfortunately adopted the arrogant and entitled posture of the racist Democratic Alliance and has confused the power it holds due to the support of the EFF as an election victory."

He added that the Central Command Team of the EFF and the Plenum "resolved that the organisation must no longer be on the touchlines of governance and that the EFF must begin to occupy meaningful roles of responsibility in local municipalities".

The EFF and IFP have had a relationship at the local government level since 2016.

Door open for engagement

Malema, however, said the door was open for engagements with all parties, including the IFP.

"Negotiations with the IFP will never be closed [but] they have a history of collaborating with apartheid collaborators."

He added the current composition of political party leadership in metropolitans in Gauteng was "informed by white supremacist entitlement".

"It is illogical for the DA to lead all major metropolitans, while not giving meaningful roles of responsibility to any of its coalition partners."

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"The EFF will continue to participate in the removal of the DA across all metros to establish governments that will be transparent, accountable, and humble."

Malema said the EFF would be accepting leadership responsibilities of speakers, mayors, and members of mayoral committees in different municipalities this year. 

He added that the current coalition agreement with the ANC was that they would work together, but with a minority party as mayor - as has happened in Johannesburg with the election of Thapelo Amad from Al Jama-ah.

Malema said the same thing would happen in Ekurhuleni, where a mayor would come from within the minority parties, and the EFF would be the speaker.

"In Johannesburg, all IFP roles will be [taken over by the EFF]. We're not going to vote and not get involved [with a role in the leadership]."

In response to queries by News24, IFP spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa said the party would address the media at a briefing in Durban on Monday.

Malema also announced a national shutdown for the removal of President Cyril Ramaphosa on 20 March. 

He said the party had instructed its lawyer, Victor Nkhwashu, to privately prosecute Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe for his "corrupt activities with Bosasa".

"We do so because South Africa's law enforcement agencies are reluctant and refusing to act against corrupt politicians. We, as the EFF, will from time to time privately prosecute corrupt politicians who use their power to hide from accountability."