The EFF leader, Julius Malema has promised residents of the Ditsobotla local Municipality that should his party be voted into power, it will ensure that the communities benefit from their local natural resources.
Malema is campaigning in Bodibe village ahead of the much anticipated by-elections to be held on Wednesday.
He said if voted into power, the EFF will pressure local mining companies to contribute to the development of the area.
“For all the mines that are here to get operating licenses for mining, they had to sign a social development program agreement. This program commits them to build schools, roads and other developments in the village.
“But all these mines have failed to abide by that agreement, but yet they continue to mine without being held accountable, because ANC leaders, like President Cyril Ramaphosa have shares at those mines.
“So as the EFF today we want to commit that if we are voted into power, Lafarge and other mines will pop out money that they are supposed to pay to develop the village by building schools, and roads by ensuring that there is water and electricity to make Bodibe one of the most beautiful villages because it has mineral resources,” Malema said.
Malema also promised to root out corruption in the municipality.
“There is only one problem for South Africa and Africa as a whole and that is corruption. If we can end corruption, no child will be unemployed, because funds that are supposed to make roads politicians take and use for their personal gains without making the road.
“And when they fail to make the road then there are no jobs, because when we make a road we create jobs for the unemployed young people. So when they steal money they have no jobs.
“When they steal money there won’t be any clinic that operates 24 hours. Doctors, nurses and security guards that work at the local clinics have to be paid when they are on duty during the day and night.
“But now the payments that were meant to pay them for the night duty are stolen by ANC politicians. And now the clinics close at 4pm. How is it possible for clinics to close at night, while liquor taverns operate 24 hours,” Malema asked.
One of the community members who came out to meet Malema, Masebata Mokaleng, said she was hopeful that given a chance, the EFF will make a difference.
“All this time we have been struggling without water and electricity, bad roads with no services. But today because the by-elections are coming and they want our votes, different political parties are here.
“I have been volunteering at the local clinic for 19-years, our government fails to hire us. But hire people from outside instead, who have never even volunteered. Politicians are full of lies but I’m hopeful that if given a chance the EFF would really bring changes,” she said.
Malema also cautioned elders against voting for the ANC because of loyalty to the late struggle stalwart, Nelson Mandela, saying the ANC now belonged to those who he deemed corrupt.
The Ditsobotla Municipality was disbanded by the North West Provincial government in August after months of instability as a result of infighting in the ANC caucus.
Several parties have been campaigning in this area for the past few weeks ahead of Wednesday’s by-elections, this includes the ANC and the DA.
