More EFF members on visa �blacklist�

Sharon Mathala | Wednesday November 19, 2014 16:37

 

The latest five join their leader, Julius Malema, who was slapped with a visa restriction last year in June, which was subsequently denied in September when he applied for entry for the launch of an Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) candidate.

According to Labour and Home Affairs document dated October 8, Andile Mngixtama, Mbuyiseni Ndlovu, Floyd Shivambu, Dali Mpofu and Magdalene Moonsamy  - all senior officials in the EFF – are now under visa restrictions.

Mngxitama is the EFFs land commissar, Ndlovu its spokesperson, Shivambu its chief whip in Parliament while Moonsamy is the party’s head of international relations and solidarity.

Mpofu is a renowned lawyer currently representing Marikana miners’ families who decamped to the EFF from the ANC last year. Yesterday, Labour and Home Affairs minister, Edwin Batshu confirmed that more EFF members were on the visa restrictions.

“The five names will be required to access a visa when entering Botswana,” he said.

When asked if the decision was motivated by political considerations, Batshu said the five EFF were placed under visa restrictions for security reasons that could not be shared with the media.

“It is a security issue and I cannot go beyond that,” he said. Malema incurred the wrath of the Government of Botswana after calling for the removal of President Ian Khama and calling his government a ‘puppet regime’ in 2011.  Malema’s own former party, the ANC, booted him out after the incident and he subsequently formed the EFF which has since become a thorn in the ANC’s side in Parliament and every public forum.

In a political rally prior to the elections, Khama lambasted the opposition for inviting Malema and his party into Botswana, saying the South African opposition party was proving an irritant in its home soil.

“They (UDC) invited some of the members of a new party in South Africa to come officiate at their rally.  They wanted them as their instructors and mentors, but these are the very same people who are causing havoc at the South African Parliament.

“The recent transgressions by the EFF in the South African Parliament sitting show that if elected into power the UDC may imitate them,” Khama said.

In its election manifesto, the EFF pledges that it will work “towards African isolation of Botswana.”

The South African party claims that Botswana is the base of “an imperialist military base”, adding that it will “push for progressive internal reforms within Botswana, which should involve the people of Botswana”.

EFF spokespeople were unavailable for comment by yesterday afternoon. Meanwhile South African president, Jacob Zuma will meet Khama at tomorrow’s Bi-National Commission to be held in Gaborone.