Former EFF chief whip in the Mpumalanga legislature Ayanda Tshabalala, who resigned from the party early last week, is now an ANC member.
Tshabalala was officially welcomed into the party by senior ANC executives and cabinet ministers Siyabonga Cwele and David Mahlobo in Mbombela on Saturday.
On the same day, her former boss, EFF leader Julius Malema, addressed a packed rally outside Hazyview.
Not one to be outdone by the EFF's commander-in-chief, who addressed more than 5000 supporters at Masoyi Stadium after visiting villages and townships around Mbombela last week, the ANC hosted its own event to welcome "more than 500 EFF members into the ANC", according to ANC provincial secretary Lucky Ndinisa.
Ndinisa told Sowetan that Tshabalala and her fellow defectors had actually began planning to join the ANC some two months ago. He said the EFF defectors from the regions of Nkangala, Gert Sibande, Ehlanzeni and Bohlabela grouped themselves and approached the ANC provincial leadership to register their interest in joining the ANC.
"We said to them we would not talk to people of another party, that they must resign first before we could talk," Ndinisa said.
Tshabalala, who downed her red beret last week together with eight others, confirmed her new membership of the ANC. She promised to release a media statement.
She accused the EFF of corruption, sexual exploitation and dictatorship at the time of her resignation.
EFF spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said the ANC's move to host its welcoming ceremony on the same day as the EFF rally was "a cheap propaganda tactic" employed by "cowards".
"The ANC should say it has welcomed back its moles that were unsuccessful in destabilising the army of Economic Freedom Fighters," Ndlozi said, adding that it was a lie more than 500 EFF members had defected because "crowds were rented" for dramatic value.
He said the EFF was not moved by the defections as people "were exercising their right to choose".
He also accused Tshabalala of handing the EFF's database to the ANC which was allegedly used to send bulk SMSes to announce that the EFF rally was cancelled.
mazibilas@sowetan.co.za
ANC, EFF tussle in popularity shows
Former EFF chief whip in the Mpumalanga legislature Ayanda Tshabalala, who resigned from the party early last week, is now an ANC member.
Tshabalala was officially welcomed into the party by senior ANC executives and cabinet ministers Siyabonga Cwele and David Mahlobo in Mbombela on Saturday.
On the same day, her former boss, EFF leader Julius Malema, addressed a packed rally outside Hazyview.
Not one to be outdone by the EFF's commander-in-chief, who addressed more than 5000 supporters at Masoyi Stadium after visiting villages and townships around Mbombela last week, the ANC hosted its own event to welcome "more than 500 EFF members into the ANC", according to ANC provincial secretary Lucky Ndinisa.
Ndinisa told Sowetan that Tshabalala and her fellow defectors had actually began planning to join the ANC some two months ago. He said the EFF defectors from the regions of Nkangala, Gert Sibande, Ehlanzeni and Bohlabela grouped themselves and approached the ANC provincial leadership to register their interest in joining the ANC.
"We said to them we would not talk to people of another party, that they must resign first before we could talk," Ndinisa said.
Tshabalala, who downed her red beret last week together with eight others, confirmed her new membership of the ANC. She promised to release a media statement.
She accused the EFF of corruption, sexual exploitation and dictatorship at the time of her resignation.
EFF spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said the ANC's move to host its welcoming ceremony on the same day as the EFF rally was "a cheap propaganda tactic" employed by "cowards".
"The ANC should say it has welcomed back its moles that were unsuccessful in destabilising the army of Economic Freedom Fighters," Ndlozi said, adding that it was a lie more than 500 EFF members had defected because "crowds were rented" for dramatic value.
He said the EFF was not moved by the defections as people "were exercising their right to choose".
He also accused Tshabalala of handing the EFF's database to the ANC which was allegedly used to send bulk SMSes to announce that the EFF rally was cancelled.
mazibilas@sowetan.co.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos