Juju bans fat-cat perks

Julius Malema's newly launched Economic Freedom Fighters political party will declare it a criminal offence for its office bearers to use private services in education, healthcare, housing, transport and others.

Using public services will be compulsory in law for EFF office bearers, if the party comes to power.

The EFF was officially launched yesterday near Lonmin's Marikana mine, where 34 strikers were shot dead by the police on August 16 last year.

EFF spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi confirmed yesterday that the outright ban on the use of private services by EFF members and public representatives was party policy.

"It's an official policy of the EFF," said Ndlozi. "We decided that it should be so at our conference in Soweto."

EFF politicians will have to take the Thomas Sankara Oath.

Inspired by Burkina Faso's first democratically elected leader, Thomas Sankara, the oath reads, in part: "As a practical indication of my acknowledgement that the only way to ensure that the services I provide are of an acceptable standard, I hereby undertake to use the services that the public sector provides to the people. What is good for me is good for the people.

"I therefore declare that it is a criminal offence to use private services for myself, my family and my dependants, including, but not limited to, education, healthcare, housing and transport. I am committed to public service, therefore I use the services I provide."

The party's trademark red berets will be a familiar sight on taxis, buses and trains as EFF members will also be forbidden to use private transport.

At present, ministers, MECs and other public representatives have access to a raft of private options, including healthcare and chauffeur-driven cars .

UDM leader Bantu Holomisa made a surprise appearance at the launch.

Holomisa, wearing white trackpants with a matching top and sneakers, was seated in the front row, next to former ANC Youth League spokesman Floyd Shivambu and Malema.

Holomisa's UDM is a significant player in Eastern Cape, the region where he was a homeland leader between 1987 and 1994.

His party in Marikana houses a significant number of mineworkers from the province.

Last month, Holomisa declined to comment on his relationship with fledgling union Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union, which came into the limelight following the Marikana tragedy through its rivalry with the National Union of Mineworkers.

Both EFF spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi and the party's North West organiser Papiki Baboile declined to comment on Holomisa's presence.

A Gauteng EFF leader said: ''Everyone must come to the EFF and be led."

Addressing about 10000 people at the launch, EFF commander-in chief Malema reminded his supporters of the harsh economic conditions that sparkedthe strike that led to the August 16 shootings.

He said there could no be reconciliation while such conditions prevailed. Malema accused whites of having stolen blacks' land and of genocide.

"Reconciliation does not mean I don't have to tell you the truth. If you want pretenders, go to Sauer Street (the address of Luthuli House, the ANC's national headquarters).

"There is no reconciliation in South Africa. There will never be reconciliation until you [white South Africans] bring back the stolen land," said Malema.

The EFF supporters met at Wonderkop, near Lonmin's Marikana mine, where a confrontation between striking miners and armed police ended in pools of blood.

Last year, when Malema was there he was escorted away by the police. But yesterday the police merely kept an eye on the proceedings.

Malema promised more developments after next year's elections, including the establishment of EFF-aligned trade unions.

He warned existing unions not to be complacent.

- Additional reporting by © BDlive 2013