By Celani Sikhakhane
- The EFF in KZN is outraged over the R5,000 bail for its members, calling it an attempt to block their fight for accountability in uMhlathuze.
- The party accuses the IFP of protecting expelled EFF councillors and vows to continue pushing for their removal despite police action and arrests.
The EFF in KwaZulu-Natal is furious about the bail set for provincial chairperson Mongezi Twala after he was arrested along with other party members for storming the uMhlathuze council and damaging property.
This comes after the Richards Bay Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday set an amount of R5,000 bail for each of the accused: Twala along with Sabelo Khubisa, Simphiwe Ndlela, Simo Gumede and Vusimuzi Cele.
In a statement the EFF described the bail as outrageous and an attempt to block the EFF from demanding accountability after the refusal of the City of uMhlathuze to remove three EFF councillors.
The trio were expelled from the party in 2023 for failing to organise buses to the party’s 10-year anniversary at the FNB stadium in Johannesburg.
“This attempt to silence us has only strengthened our commitment to ensure that democracy prevails in the City of uMhlathuze. We will remain on the ground to ensure that the illegitimate councillors are being removed and the will of the people is upheld,” the party said.
Last month the EFF stormed a meeting of the uMhlathuze council to demand the physical removal of these three councillors. The action was met with police anger and rubber bullets were used to disperse the violent crowd of EFF members.
The property was damaged and some of the security guards were allegedly beaten by angry EFF members.
The party claims that the IFP is playing politics by protecting EFF councillors who have been expelled by the organisation in uMhlathuze and in the Big 5 Hlabisa local municipality under the uMkhanyakude district.
Pictured above: EFF leaders are not backing down on uMhlathuze councillors after being ordered to pay R5,000 bail each.
Source: X
