Fighters say this is part of Premier David Mabuza’s bid to fool the poor about jobs that do not exist “in order to defocus them on their quest for real economic freedom in their life time”.
The Economic Freedom Fighters in the Mpumalanga province have called on all community members to not partake in any of the programmes of the Practical Radical Economic Transformation (PRET) group, saying it is formed to suppress their grievances.
Provincial chairman Collen Sedibe says they have noted with shock the launch of the group by eMalahleni businessman Themba ‘Masofa’ Sgudla and former eMalahleni municipality chief whip Sunday Mathebula.
“This militia group is aimed at suppressing the disgruntled communities of Nkangala, Gert Sibande and Ehlanzeni to stop engaging in service delivery protests when demanding quality service delivery and [force them to now] directly engage with DD Mabuza and its leaders when there are challenges,” Sedibe said.
SEE ALSO: Mabuza established PRET as his ‘mass weapon’
The group is said to have been formed by the Premier of the province as ‘his EFF’ and it has recently led marches and protests in parts of the Mpumalanga province to government and business offices.
It was launched at the Witbank Dam on 11 and 12 March 2017 as an organisation fighting unemployment and giving poor people the access to economic empowerment through engaging big corporates and government.
During its launch – attended by Mabuza, economic development MEC Eric Kholwane, eMalahleni mayor Lindiwe Ntshalintshali and Nkangala ANC leader – an ‘executive committee’ led by Sgudla as ‘President’ and Mathebula as ‘secretary general’ was elected but 013NEWS has learnt that a large number of those elected into the executive committee have since left PRET, charging that Sgudla and Mathebula are playing with people and that they have not delivered on any of their promises to create jobs for the youth.
“The EFF in the province calls upon all its members and supporters to reject the membership of PRET or T Shirts and refrain from attending any meeting organised by this group,” Sedibe said in a statement released Thursday this week.
SEE ALSO: PRET says Mosebenzi Zwane is “disrespecting Mabuza”
“This message should also be be passed to all members of the community in order to cautioned them about the lies and intentions of this militia group.The are no jobs that the PRET will provide to the communities as they are not a government entity or private sector company,” he said.
“This militia group is extremely dangerous and venomous to the society and is sponsored through money stolen from the public purse which is aimed at improving the life of the people of Mpumalanga.
“The is a lot hidden behind this PRET idea and we will keep EFF members and supporters as well as the general communities abreast about their bigger plan.
“For now we must all say #PRETMustFall,” Sedibe said.
(edited by MLM)
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