EFF claims to stand for the poor but expelled me for my poverty, says axed MP Vusi Khoza

EFF MP Vusi Khoza, who was recalled from his position after failing to hire 20 buses for the party’s 10th birthday celebration in July, has officially been expelled from the red berets.

Khoza told TimesLIVE Premium his membership was terminated by the EFF central command team (CCT) after a disciplinary hearing found him guilty of breaching party rules for refusing to resign as an MP.

Khoza was ordered to resign from his top position in August as a consequence of failing to hire 20 buses from KZN to Johannesburg for party supporters. 

“I was given an opportunity to appeal which I am going to use because I believe the action they have taken against me was too harsh. The party gave an instruction to go and fundraise R800,000 to R1,000,000 for 20 buses. The fundraising in the constitution of the EFF is the responsibility of treasurers. It is not my job. Why would they punish me but not have a problem with the person tasked with the job?” 

Khoza believes the CCT decision against him and about 62 other party representatives is unjust and unfair.

“Out of the 63 people who were expelled about 50% of them are from KZN. This is one of the poorest provinces in SA. Surely a consideration should have been made to say the EFF stands for the poorest of the poor. You cannot punish people for their poverty.”

Khoza supported councillors who challenged the party’s call for them to resign.

“There was a councillor that was sworn-in in May and earned a salary for the first time in June. The organisation then took 50% of the salary for the first three months, it is a rule. In July, 50% of her salary went to the organisation, but at the end of that month she was expected to procure a bus. She failed and was asked to resign,” he said.

“I advised that person not to resign and to go before the disciplinary committee. I was being fair to her so that she had a chance to explain herself.

“People like me had careers before going into politics and can go back to that, but this is not the case for everyone. The party said the councillors must buy bakkies, and they complied. A chunk of their salary is taken serving that debt, but now they were also expected to bring buses. That was not fair.”   

Khoza said he had a hard time raising funds as he fought with most businesspeople in the region.

“I failed to raise funds because I don’t have rich friends, family members or rich business people that I know. In fact, I fight business people who exploit employees to make profits. How do I go to them to say ‘give me money to hire buses to go to FNB’? I refused to be captured.

“I would have stayed in the ANC and been corrupt and would have probably been a multi-millionaire. I left the ANC because of corruption. So I would not sell my soul to the devil, the tenderpreneurs and capitalists to fill my hat with money so that I can hire buses.” 

EFF president Julius Malema spoke at a rally in Mpumalanga at the weekend and warned members to follow party rules or risk being expelled like Khoza. 

Khoza didn’t believe it was a good move for the party to expel a large group of people months before the national elections. 

“The ANC is in the predicament it is in because of arrogance and looking down on people on the ground. The EFF is going on the same path, you do not do that to people because these are people who have worked hard for this organisation. How do you expel so many people on the eve of elections?

“That is arrogance, because saying you do not care even if we can expel, it is not a problem. Humility is important for leaders. I hope the EFF will not go down the same route as the ANC.”