EFF leader, Julius Malema, wants former finance minister, Mcebisi Jonas, to be next the mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay.
Melama made the comment while speaking to journalists at a national march in Johannesburg, a day after he announced in Parliament that the EFF would be bringing a motion of no confidence in Nelson Mandela Bay Executive Mayor, Athol Trollip, to punish the DA for not supporting the EFF's push for land expropriation without compensation.
"They don't appreciate the pain that comes with landlessness. They think it's about houses, it's not about houses, it's about reclaiming that which was taken from us through brutality and genocide and since they do not appreciate that, and they are obsessed with PE (Nelson Mandela Bay), we need to take that from them to teach them a lesson. To make them appreciate we mean business when it comes to land," he said.
Malema said that they had told the ANC in Nelson Mandela Bay that any candidate they field must have a track record of fighting corruption.
He said Jonas was the perfect candidate, having rejected R600m cash bribe from the controversial Gupta family, adding, that he should be rewarded for his stance on corruption.
"In PE we are looking at a person like Mcebisi Jonas. If they can't bring Mcebisi Jonas, they must bring someone close to Mcebisi Jonas, (even) though I don't know where they are going to get (someone like him). It's non-negotiable. We want someone who has rejected R600m. Tha ANC has punished Mcebisi Jonas for rejecting R600m by not electing him in their conference, by not appointing him as a minister now," Malema said.
Malema also warned that if the ANC, in Nelson Mandela Bay, nominated thugs, like Andile Lungisa, they would not fold their arms and watch.
"We said to the ANC that we need a person who has got a history of fighting corruption. If you don't have a history of fighting corruption, you can't lead PE," he said.
In a slight twist of irony, Malema said that the EFF councillors actually have a good working relationship with the DA in Nelson Mandela Bay, but the problem is that they are not finding each at a national level when it comes to the fundamental policies of the EFF.
"They don't appreciate the pain that comes with landlessness. They think it's about houses, it's not about houses, it's about reclaiming that which was taken from us through brutality and genocide and since they do not appreciate that, and they are obsessed with PE, we need to take that from them to teach them a lesson. To make them appreciate we mean business when it comes to land," he said.
Malema said Johannesburg and Tshwane were safe adding that people should also remember that the EFF does not have a contract with the DA, so it could change anytime.
"We are not in a coalition with them, we don't care about white feelings, we don't care about the feelings of the voters of the DA, they can go to hell. We are not blackmailing them for anything, we have not asked Trollip for anything, we have never troubled him. Actually, he's the one who came to ask us to chair the Scopa committee in PE, we never asked to chair it. It's not about money, it's not about political careers, it's about pursuing the struggle for the expropriation of land without compensation. We want everyone's buy-in. If you don't buy into this programme you remain the enemy of our people," he added.
Meanwhile, Speaking on the DMB on Algoa FM on Wednesday, Trollip said it was expected that it the vote of no confidence motion would be tabled sooner or later, as Malema said right up-front that he did not want to be involved in any formal coalitions.
" It's a tit for tat kind of thing, if you don't vote for our motion we will kick out one of your mayors. Well, I'll be the first and then who will be next, when will the next threat be. In politics, you always have to find the principal and not the personality. So, if I'm the scapegoat for that and I must go that's fine but we are going to keep our heads down, we are going to carry on working, bringing about change in this city and improving service delivery," Trollip said.
Trollip also told Algoa Fm that he was prepared to go back to the opposition seats if the motion of no confidence against him succeeds.
The EFF is expected to table the motion of no confidence against Trollip on the 6th of April.
