EFF to table motion requiring Ministers, Premiers, MECs to have tertiary qualifications

CAPE TOWN - The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in the Western Cape said that its leadership will table a motion in Parliament requiring ministers, premiers and MECs to possess a tertiary qualification.

EFF Member of Provincial Legislature (MPL) Aishah Cassiem made the announcement in the provincial legislature on Thursday, during a debate on Premier Alan Winde’s Opening of Parliament Address.

READ: WC ANC slams Winde for lacking credible plan to improve residents' lives

Cassiem was scathing of Winde’s running of the province and said that his cabinet was out of touch with the lived realities of residents.

Her swipe at Winde for not having a degree follows that of EFF leadership who regularly mock Democratic Alliance (DA) Members of Parliament (MPs), including its leader John Steenhuisen, for not having tertiary qualifications.

“The EFF will table a motion in national Parliament that requires ministers to have a post-matric qualification. We are going to extend this motion to legislatures to include that Premiers, Speakers and MECs must have a post-matric qualification and from recognised tertiary institutions because clearly, part of the problem here is that we have Premiers and MECs who lack the requisite variety and understanding to run a province and take care of the actual needs of its people.”

According to Cassiem’s LinkedIn profile, she is studying towards an undergrad degree at the University of South Africa (UNISA). She holds a one-year office administration qualification from Damelin and another in journalism from City Varsity.

Before entering the legislature last year, Cassiem was a councillor in the City of Cape Town.