‘It’s a failure to all of you’: Malema slams EFF branches for not electing women in top five leadership

EFF leader Julius Malema has slammed a branch for failing to elect women into the party’s provincial leadership.

Malema expressed his dismay at his party’s failure to elect women during its Eastern Cape elective congress this week.

He scolded delegates at the party’s third Provincial People’s Assembly for failing to elect a single woman into the top five leadership structure.

The party leader said the failure to elect women into top positions was an injustice to the liberation of women for whom the party advocates.

“There is no solution in South African without women in the centre of that development. In your first task in the Eastern Cape, you have completely failed to fulfil your mission, and that mission is a mission that makes sure that in everything we do, we put women at the centre,” he said.

The top five elected included Zilindile Vena as Eastern Cape chairperson, Mlamli Makhetha as deputy chairperson, Simthembile Madikizela as secretary, Zolile Mgqwayiza as deputy secretary and Thembinkosi Apleni as treasurer.

Malema said he was not proud of the top five.

“It’s a failure to all of you. It’s disrespect from all of you to the women of Eastern Cape, to the women of South Africa,” he said.

“What type of leaders and delegates are we? What type of women are you who come together in a conference like this, more than 50% of you, and do not elect a single woman in the top five?

“Who are the people in society who have more problems than others? It is women. Are you saying these men are going to solve the problems of women without women? Are you saying women are not capable enough to find solutions to their own problems?” asked Malema.

He cautioned delegates not to follow factionalism, saying they must follow the principles, constitution and ideas of the EFF.

“The EFF teaches you that, fundamentally, we need women in our struggle. We will never be free as long as women are not free. Every day we march. We don’t want women abused, we don’t want GVB [gender-based violence].

“When we are given an opportunity ourselves to demonstrate to society how committed we are in this course for the liberation of women, we don’t grab that opportunity with both hands."

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