Emotions run high at EFF conference

Bloemfontein - Emotions ran high on Monday evening when the Economic Freedom Fighters' national peoples assembly nominated additional members to the party's command team.

Member of Parliament Andile Mngxitima was nominated at the congress, held at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein, but declined.

He walked to the microphone and softly gave his reasons.

"Comrade president, please protect this movement. Initially I was going to accept, but my revolutionary conscience will not allow me to accept," he said and turned away.

Delegates from Gauteng clapped and ululated. They started singing "lento e uyenzayo a I lunganga" (what you're doing is not right).

The development followed various complaints by delegates that people were given names of who to elect.

However, party leader Julius Malema dismissed the complaints and told the delegates to write to the steering committee.

"If they feel strongly about the concern, they will bring it to the attention of the conference," Malema said.

The list contained the names of all the people finalised and endorsed by provinces.

Gauteng was the most vocal in its rejection of the list. The majority of the delegates did not participate in voting to endorse candidates.