GARETH VAN ONSELEN: How the EFF is just like the ANC on corruption

In response to a recent decision by the Nelson Mandela Bay coalition government to remove UDM deputy mayor Mongameli Bobani from office the EFF released the following statement (EFF statement on the DA led coalition local governments):

"Following the actions of the DA in Nelson Mandela Metro which demonstrated an arrogance of power and white supremacy, we have decided to stay away from all other municipality council meetings governed by the DA-led opposition coalitions."

The statement provides no evidence for its position and revolves entirely around rhetoric, most of which targeted the DA.

"In dealing with the DA it is always their way or the high way," it says. "They fail on all levels to appreciate the humility of being given power by other parties."

Later in the statement it says "the DA is failing to hold the opposition parties together through mature, patient and humble leadership".

"They employ the same approach of an arrogance of power that has characterised the Nationalist Party, and now the ANC, thus rendering the alternative opposition coalition local governments futile."

After the DA suggested a meeting to discuss the matter the EFF released a second statement. "The EFF will not meet the DA to discuss its decision to stay away from councils led by the DA," says the statement.

"We are not in any coalition with the DA and we do not owe the DA any explanation whatsoever … the EFF will never explain itself to a white man."

It is ironic how often in politics the accusation applies not to the intended target but the accuser. So it is with the EFF. Its two statements are so saturated with arrogance and hypocrisy the stuff almost drips off the page.

But, before getting to that, a few other things are worth noting about the first statement. First, as alluded to, it provides no evidence for the claims it makes. It cannot demonstrate how the DA was supposedly high-handed, because there is nothing to substantiate the claim, so it doesn’t even bother to try. The media, which rarely requires evidence from political parties for their claims, ran it prominently.

Second, it is cowardly and stupid, an ironically common trait for a party that feigns so much bravery. It is cowardly not only because it attempts to racialise the problem, the last refuge of the obtuse and weak-minded, but because when its bluff was called (the DA sought a meeting), the EFF declined.

This is why one should be very wary of the EFF, should it ever get its hands on actual power. It is not what it pretends to be

It proves that consultation, which requires maturity, compromise and restraint, was never the party’s concern, merely politicking.

But really, it is the hypocrisy that is all-defining.

Here is what the EFF has had to say about other individuals who face serious and substantial charges of maladministration, poor judgment, unethical behaviour or corruption.

When James Aguma, former SABC chief financial officer was initially suspended, a party statement read: "The EFF welcomes the suspension of SABC Acting CEO, James Aguma by the SABC interim board. We call for the process of his hiring to be escalated together with his master, Motsoeneng. The two, hand in hand, caused the financial crisis that has compromised the SABC."

When Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane (whom the EFF voted for) suggested in a report that the Reserve Bank’s mandate be changed, the party said in a statement:  "We call on her to do the honourable thing and step down. This is not only for an illegitimate and dangerous remedial action, but also for the audacity of offering to use public funds to pay for her incompetent decisions. If she really is genuine in her realisation of how flawed her remedial action is, why did she wait for others to initiate a court action?"

When the EFF was unhappy with the superficial economic plan recently revealed by the finance minister, it said in a statement, "The EFF calls for the removal of Malusi Gigaba and Sfiso Buthelezi from the finance ministry. The pair convened a press conference today to speak about a plan on economic recovery. Yet throughout the press conference they had to explain their personal involvement in the corrupt looting of state resources.

"This is precisely why such ministries should not be led by such people, who instead of focusing on the economy, they are entangled in corruption. No investor, both domestically and internationally, can ever be confident in our country and its government when our finance ministry is led by corrupt individuals."

When a probe was announced into the conduct of acting police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane, the EFF said:  "The EFF calls for the immediate suspension of the Acting Police Commissioner, Khomotso Phahlane following IPID’s probe against him which is currently being compromised by his continued holding of the office of National Police Commissioner."

The list is endless. This is the EFF where the ANC or those aligned to it are concerned: it welcomes and encourages swift action in the face of poor governance — formal investigations warrant immediate suspension, bad judgment warrants instant resignation and unethical behaviour warrants quick removal from office. It is decisive and categorical. But, where its own government is concerned, in Nelson Mandela Bay, it protests at the action taken against potential corruption and maladministration.

This is why one should be very wary of the EFF, should it ever get its hands on actual power. It is not what it pretends to be. When it has the chance to influence actual governance, it behaves just like the ANC. And it uses all the ANC tricks to negate the hard choices unethical behaviour necessitates: consultation, endless processes and self-serving politics.

Do not for a moment think the UDM is any different. When the DA in Johannesburg fired one of its own members of the metro mayco, after serious allegations of corruption surfaced, it released a statement saying, "The United Democratic Movement (UDM) commends Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba for the swift action regarding allegations of corruption by MMC for Economic Development Cllr Sharon Peetz.

"Corruption has no colour or political affiliation and this administration of the City of Johannesburg is here to root out corruption regardless of who commits it. It must be made clear that no one is above the law; irrespective of a person’s high office. Justice must take its course."

Real power has a way of revealing any political party for what it truly is. Both the UDM and the EFF are busy unmasking themselves. Their feigned hard line on corruption, whenever it doesn’t involve some personal responsibility on the part of either party, falls apart when the lens is turned on them.

Just to be clear, the EFF will deny it is part of the Nelson Mandela Bay government, but that is only a technical distinction. It gave power to the coalition, through its cowardly but expedient decision to sit on the fence and abstain; something it is very quick to remind anyone who asks. So, it has a great deal of moral responsibility for how that government performs. Indeed, its pathetic decision to stay away from council meetings speaks directly to its complicity. How could it "teach a lesson" if it has no power?

The allegations against Bobani are substantial and serious.

In summary:

• He made accusations of corruption against the city manager which he later withdrew and for which he apologised (only to repeat them later);

•Met with suspended officials, some already arrested by the Hawks, meddling in the disciplinary hearings and requesting charges be withdrawn and the individuals reinstated.

• Turned on city officials berating them for opposing an appointment, and manipulating the appointment process;

• Offered to appoint someone to an executive director position before shortlisting had begun;

• Publicly and repeatedly attacked the mayor personally and without substantiating evidence;

• Has been sued by the director of corporate services for defamation;

• Held unofficial press conferences without a mandate to attack his own government;

Made financial decisions without the relevant officials being present;

• Repeatedly voted against the coalition;

• Verbally and publicly attacked council staff;

• Claimed he was a qualified lawyer without proof;

• Colluded with the ANC minister for local government;

•Installed blue lights on his car, against government regulations;

• Was found, in a report compiled by acting executive director of public health, to have hired staff irregularly and outside of the budget (including R1m in recorded irregular expenditure for overtime paid to waste collection staff);

• His department was implicated in a PricewaterhouseCoopers forensic investigation into allegations of irregular invoicing and expenditure that corroborated the health department report and expanded the allegations; and

• There are also allegations evidence has been destroyed.

These are incredibly serious allegations of maladministration. All of this has played out over a year, was carefully documented and provided to the opposition parties in the coalition, and all of it has been matched by extensive consultation and deliberation.

In every other incidence of serious allegations — Gigaba, Nguma, Phalane — the EFF has been quick to call for political action. As with every case, all must ultimately pass muster before some legal authority. But the evidence against Bobani is powerful and compelling nonetheless, worthy of political action. As the EFF will confirm, perceptions, especially when it comes to fighting corruption, are critically important.

Which is why, where the ANC is concerned, the EFF is more than happy to use independent forensic investigations, for example — the purpose of which is to establish criminal wrongdoing — to turn viciously and instantaneously on the ANC. Likewise the UDM. To use that party’s own words: "It must be made clear that no one is above the law; irrespective of a person’s high office."

Or, to use the EFF’s own code of conduct: "All EFF public representatives found to be involved in corruption and secret relations with other political parties and business must be immediately suspended and face disciplinary measures". No less than the EFF constitution states, "Unity is a paramount principle of the EFF. The sowing of disunity within the ranks of the EFF and the oppressed will be severely dealt with."

And so on. These parties pride themselves on their standards, they set them apart they claim. But they are double standards.

The moment the ANC is no longer the counterpoint, the EFF and UDM do an about-turn. Then decisive action is the last thing they want and their much vaunted standards count for nothing. Then abhorrent conduct must be indulged and met by "humility". What utter and total, cheap and hypocritical nonsense. And the arrogance of the EFF, to assume it occupies some morally virtuous position on this issue. It is a disgrace.

But there is an important lesson in this: Do not trust the EFF. Its attitude to unacceptable behaviour and unethical governance is just a helpful stick to beat the ANC, just as its attitude to serious allegations of maladministration is random. In Nelson Mandela Bay, the party has profoundly failed to prove it will act when it counts. The EFF is busy sacrificing its anticorruption credentials at the altar of its racial divisiveness. Unless it changes its attitude, when it really matters, when deeds not words define its attitude, it will soon find itself indistinguishable from the ANC.