EFF details reasons why it left ANC-led coalition in Ekurhuleni

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) said it was the constant undermining by the African National Congress (ANC) and the pushing out of its members from governance structures that led to it pull out of the governing coalition in Ekurhuleni.

On Wednesday, the EFF announced it will be moving to opposition benches following the removal of two of its MMC’s in the Mayoral Committee.

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On Sunday, Ekurhuleni Mayor Doctor Xhakaza reshuffled his Mayoral Committee, cutting the EFF’s seats on his Cabinet from four to two.

When the ANC and EFF entered into a coalition in 2023, both parties had five seats each in the Ekurhuleni Mayoral Committee.

However, a year later, Xhakaza removed the EFF’s Nkululeko Dunga as the Finance MMC.

That prompted this threat from the EFF’s leader Julius Malema: “If by this evening, Dunga is not re-appointed as the MMC of Finance, all our MMC’s in Johannesburg, Mogale City, Port Elizabeth and Ekurhuleni - all of them - are going to step down. We are not scared of a fight.”

However, Dunga was never re-instated and the EFF stayed.

About two years later, two more EFF MMC’s have been removed from the Mayoral Committee.

EFF’s Gauteng spokesperson, Dumisani Baleni, said that the red berets presence in the coalition had become untenable.

“These decisions were to undermine the EFF. Also, consider we had an agreement where the EFF was occupying the position of Speaker in Ekurhuleni, which the ANC had taken over completely disregarding political engagements and co-operation between the two organisations.”

The EFF said they will support a motion of no confidence in Xhakaza.