Leader of Build One South Africa (BOSA), Mmusi Maimane, on Sunday said that while his party does not share the same ideology stance as the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), he recognises the EFF’s generational mission to uplift South Africans.

“We may not all agree on one ideology, they form streams in this country that are fighting for freedom for people,” he said.

“And, one day will coincide as a river that will merge on to a new freedom inside us.”

Maimane was delivering a message of support to the EFF, at its elective conference, dubbed National People’s Assembly (NPA), held at Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg.

In his address, Maimane stressed the importance of working together to secure the freedom of South Africans, even though BOSA and EFF do not agree on the same ideologies.

Maimane said that freedom should not be hollow, citing the lack of basic services in townships such as Soweto.

“For what is the point of freedom when too many are dying hungry?”

Maimane called on unity in the battle for the better future and urged South Africans to stand up together for change.

“We must stand up together and say, genoeg is genoeg (enough is enough). Now is the time for change. Amandla!.”

Maimane cautioned that the conditions of inequality in the country could lead to instability.

“You can't have one South African where people are enjoying true freedom and too many are lingering in poverty. Those are material conditions of instability in our nation,” he said.

His remarks came as the elective conference was marking its last day on Sunday, after the election of the party’s Top Six officials and the Central Command Team (CCT).

EFF president and commander-in-chief (CIC), Julius Malema and his slate were elected unopposed during the conference, with Malema securing the position for the third time in a row.

Godrich Gardee replaced Floyd Shivambu, who defected to Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, as a deputy president.

Marshall Doamini returned as the secretary general, while Omphile Maotwe was re-elected as the treasurer general.

New additions to the Top Six officials, included Leigh-Ann Mathys who was serving as a national spokesperson as the deputy secretary general and Noluthando Notshuku as the party’s national chairperson.

Maimane said a time was coming when revolution (alluding to the EFF) will sweep across the country and bring significant change.

“Therefore, let us stand, let us realise, this is indeed a generational mission,” he said.

“The CIC and I have collaborated and worked together in many places so when I received an invitation to come here today, I did not find it strange,” Maimane said.

“I thought to myself, see, I'm not sure, but I think there is a disclaimer with me: we are African, we are free, we are free. Therefore, we will be there. I'm here to respond to that and say thank you for your level of the invitation.”

He urged South Africans that freedom is never won, and that it must be fought in every generation.

“But I want to invite many more South Africans to say, freedom is never won. It must be fought for in every generation,” Maimane said.

“Let us take the struggle forward, for our grandmothers, for the sake of our children.”

IOL Politics