EFF trade union founder suspended

CRACKS are widening within Julius Malema's fledgling Economic Freedom Fighters following the "verbal" suspension of key party member and interim general secretary of the National Trade Union Congress (NTUC), Eddie Mothiba.

The union was formed by EFF members last month but Malema distanced his party from it, reportedly saying its leaders had defined themselves outside EFF and have automatically expelled themselves from his party.

According to sources, Mothiba was informed of his suspension by Tshwane regional convener and Gauteng MPL Benjamin Disolwane during a meeting held in Mamelodi, Pretoria, on Saturday.

"When we asked for reasons for Mothiba's suspension, he just said it was a command from above," the insider said.

This comes after EFF members formed a union to cater for marginalised workers such as domestic workers, petrol attendants, farm workers as well as those in the retail sector.

The key EFF member and one of the union founders said Malema was against the formation of the union as it would wield too much power ahead of the December elective congress, where his leadership position would also be up for grabs.

Union spokesman Maston Phiri said he had heard of Mothiba's suspension but said there was nothing in writing.

He said they would engage national leadership to seek clarity on Malema's utterances about the fate of the union leadership.

"The constitution and the Labour Relations Act protects our right as workers to join a union of our choice or to form our own union. Suspension of party members based on the fact that they are members of NTUC is a direct violation of this right," he said.

Last week Malema said they encouraged their members to join the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) but Phiri said this was imposing a union on members. - Sipho Masombuka