North West EFF elects killers as leaders - report

Johannesburg - The North West EFF has elected two convicted murderers into its top provincial structure, The Star reported on Thursday.

Economic Freedom Fighters MPL Papiki Babuile was sentenced to 12 years for murder, and eight months for conspiracy to murder, in the North Gauteng High Court sitting in Stilfontein last month.

He was a part of gang convicted of the murder of rival politician, David Chika, who was the ANC's regional secretary, on the eve of the ruling party's Mangaung conference which kept President Jacob Zuma in power.

Babuile wanted Zuma removed.

The court found that Babuile did not fire the fatal shot - this was done by one of his accomplices, William Lesole Malefo and three others, who were all sentenced to life terms.

Both Babuile and Malefo were elected to the EFF provincial executive council in the North West, conference-goers told The Star after the weekend event in Rustenburg.

EFF spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi confirmed to the daily newspaper Malefo's nomination into the executive committee.

"Babuile was elected because his conviction and sentence were under review. He is in jail because he has not been able to secure bail," Ndlozi was quoted as saying.

But the National Prosecuting Authority said his application for leave to appeal was rejected.