Malema reads riot act

Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema has vowed to deal harshly with divisive elements within his fledgling party, saying there will be no room for "staff riders and anarchists".

Delivering his political report at the EFF's first national elective conference in Bloemfontein yesterday before more than 2000 delegates, Malema hit out at those who openly lobbied for positions in his party.

He said those who behaved in that fashion had joined the third-largest party in parliament for all the wrong reasons.

"Fellow fighters, we should also be careful of staff riders, who joined the organisation for personal gain," said Malema at a packed University of Free State's Callie Human Hall.

"Staff riders are fighters with uncontrollable ambitions for power, who arrive in the organisation today and tomorrow they want to lead the organisation."

This is Malema's first tacit admission that factionalism was starting to be an issue within his party, formed just 16 months ago after he was fired from the ANC.

There have been reports that some groups, mainly from Gauteng, were unhappy with his leadership style and had threatened to block the conference legally.

Malema also blasted EFF structures in Western Cape, Northern Cape and North-West after their provincial congresses were plagued by factional fights that culminated in physical violence.

He said he was worried that in Northern Cape, EFF members went into their provincial conference carrying weapons.

Malema said the newly elected national executive committee would discipline all members implicated in "disruptive behaviour" ahead of the national conference ending tomorrow.

"Anarchy will never be tolerated in the EFF," he said.

Malema took a swipe at the governing ANC, saying it had brought about a leadership crisis in South Africa.

He said it had failed to create jobs and deliver basic services, and was running parliament in a partisan manner.

He denied that the EFF was in an alliance with the DA.

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela recently told the SABC she hoped Malema would return to the ANC before she went on her "long sleep".

• Malema was elected unopposed as the party's leader and Floyd Shivambu was elected as his deputy

Additional reporting by Khulekani Magubane