By Johnathan Paoli
The Economic Freedom Fighters has slammed the government’s absence from flood relief centres in Mthatha, condemning the failure of both provincial and national authorities to support grieving families with burials or basic assistance as “a sign of a lack of compassion and humanity”.
EFF leader Julius Malema accompanied by secretary-general Marshall Dlamini and AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo, visited the hardest-hit communities in the area following flooding.
They reiterated their condolences to the families and communities devastated by the disaster.
“The most disheartening aspect of the visits was the absence of government officials at the centres and the lack of involvement of both provincial and national government in assisting these families with burials while their lives have been torn apart,” said EFF spokesperson Sinawo Thambo.
Malema and his delegation toured flood relief centres housing displaced residents and attended the funeral of Siyavuya Mkatshane, a 14-year-old boy who died after being swept away while walking to school.
The EFF said his tragic story exemplified the need for long-term housing solutions in flood-prone regions.
The visit laid bare what the EFF described as a shameful absence of state leadership and emergency intervention.
The party said it was “disheartened” by the complete lack of government presence at relief centres and accused the provincial government, led by premier Oscar Mabuyane, of dereliction of duty during one of the worst natural disasters in the region’s history.
“The premier of the Eastern Cape province Oscar Mabuyane has opted to take a family leave in the midst of one of the worst disasters and loss of life in our nation’s history,” Thambo said.
Mabuyane took to X to defend himself, saying: Leadership begins at home. I took leave to stand by my two sons as they transitioned from boyhood to manhood. In a time of high risk, I’m intentional about being a present father.”
He said some fathers took leave to watch their sons oplay sport, and that was perfectly fine.
“I took leave to stand by my sons during this critical passage to manhood: to guide, teach and protect them in a time when it matters most.”
The EFF also highlighted allegations of corruption in disaster response efforts.
According to affected residents, politically connected individuals were profiteering from state resources by placing victims in expensive, privately owned bed-and-breakfast establishments.
“To make matters worse, the parasitic nature of government officials has once again reared its ugly head as residents told of irregular placements of survivors in residential properties at exorbitant prices,” Thambo said.
Calling for long-term solutions, the EFF pledged to work closely with the AbaThembu Kingdom to ensure that vulnerable families were resettled on safe, suitable land.
Community members emphasised the urgent need for relocation to mitigate future disasters during several meetings with Malema and King Dalindyebo.
The EFF has committed itself to advocating for land reform in disaster-prone areas to protect the livelihoods of the poor.
Commending non-governmental organisations like Gift of the Givers for their critical relief work, the EFF also called for protection of such entities from criminal interference and extortion.
Further, it appealed to wealthy South Africans and the private sector to contribute to relief efforts.
It named philanthropists and business leaders including Patrice Motsepe, Robert Gumede, Mike Teke, Mike Nuna, Irvin Khoza and Kaizer Motaung, urging them to “turn their hearts to Mthatha” in a time of national mourning and rebuilding.
The statement also issued a challenge to major retail chains and mobile service providers, including Vodacom, MTN, Shoprite, Pick n Pay, Woolworths, PEP, and Mr Price, to show their commitment to corporate social responsibility through tangible assistance to affected communities.
In a firm message to Treasury and government oversight structures, the EFF warned that it would keep close watch over all state funds allocated for relief, promising to “monitor every cent” to prevent looting.
The EFF concluded by calling on all South Africans to unite in solidarity with Mthatha residents, describing the floods as a national tragedy that demands a collective response.
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