The Economic Freedom Fighters says it has almost completed preparations for its National People’s Assembly, elective conference and highest decision making structure scheduled for the 12th to 15 December.
The party held its 26th Central Command Team meeting in Johannesburg on Thursday which was among others expected to receive a political report from party leader Julius Malema and update on branch activities ahead of the conference.
Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting Secretary General Marshal Dlamini said all branches that approved to attend the NPA have held meetings to elect delegates.
“In terms of readiness our branches as per the guidelines they were supposed to meet and nominate delegates and all of them have met the deadline which was the 30th of October so as things stand now we are moving nicely, everything is moving smoothly even the meetings we had were all done in the good spirit and done in the interest of the organisation and delegates were nominated,” said Dlamini.
Only branches that managed to secure not less than 10 percent of the votes in their voting districts during the May 29 general elections qualify to attend the assembly. A total of 2100 branches satisfied this requirement.
He said Provincial People’s Assemblies were scheduled to be held from next weekend where provinces are expected to consolidate their policy positions ahead of the national conference which may see the most contestation on both policy and leadership.
The CCT meeting comes just a few days after Malema expressed disappointment at being kept in the dark by some of his fellow officials after they found out about his then deputy Floyd Shivambu’s intention to dump the party and join UMkhonto Wesizwe. He said he expected them to soon follow Shivambu.
“I have got a list, there’s another one next week. So everything that has been happening I have been aware of it. I was only shocked by Floyd. Some have even went to ask in parliament if they leave parliament now how much will they get, you know the most stupid thing they even ask my PA to go and check for them how much they will get so when they say CIC CIC I just look at them and say ‘ you are waiting to cash up my guy,” said Malema during a conversation with spokesperson Leigh-Ann Mathys.
Dlamini said despite concerns about MK P possibly poaching more EFF leaders, the red berets were wary of being caught up in a witch-hunt adding there was no discomfort in the CCT meeting.
“There’s no level of discomfort. Remember if these things have got nothing to do with you why would you be uncomfortable. As you can hear the leadership is here, solid, ready to receive the state of the organisation by the secretary general marching forward so we are solid, we are firm,” said Dlamini.
The EFF held its first elective conference in 2014, merely a year old at the time and a second one 5 years later in 2019.
The upcoming NPA is expected to elect Malema unopposed for a third term as party leader while most of the top positions looks set to be hotly contested.
The EFF is also expected to discuss seriously, the threat of MK P which Malema said had declared war on the red berets through the poaching of leaders.
“There’s no way anyone is going to threaten the existence of the EFF and that person becomes a friend, it will be a lie, we would be lying to ourselves. People keep on stepping you at the back and then when they meet you in public they want to be smiling and all of that, no no, keep your distance, lets just know we are not together,” said Malema.
The 3rd National People’s Assembly is scheduled to take place at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg from the 12th to the 15th of December.