4 NEWS THURSDAY MAY 22 2014 The Star Fresh faces in Parliament and legislatures ready to make their mark A vow to address Malema’s brigade steals limelight service problems BABALO NDENZE HE EFF stole the show BALDWIN NDABA also arrived in red overalls. yesterday when its 25 AND LEBOGANG SEALE They were living up to T MPs took centre stage in [email protected] their leaders’ promise that all-red overalls – a “symbolic” [email protected] EFF MPLs and MPs should act for the poor – for their offi- wear their work gear to cial swearing-in. NEWLY appointed Gauteng demonstrate their commit- The party’s MPs arrived Premier David Makhura has ment to serving their con- early for the proceedings, made bold promises to fix the stituencies. dressed in plain red overalls squalor and unemployment They were turned away by without the EFF insignia for in the province. security guards, acting on the the ceremony, which started at A day after his appoint- instruction of the legislature. 10.30am. Some female mem- ment, Makhura spoke like a Makhura, whose election bers were dressed in red man on a mission to save Gau- was uncontested, was sworn domestic worker uniforms, teng from the perils of violent in along with 72 other Gaut- with others, such as leader protests resulting from a lack eng MPLs from the ANC and Julius Malema, wearing gum- of service delivery. three opposition parties. boots. “We have been to Bekkers- Of the MPLs who were In its manifesto, the EFF dal, to Winterveld (Tshwane), sworn in, 40 were from the called for a minimum wage of Zithobeni (Bronkhorstspruit) ANC, 23 from the DA, eight R4 500 for domestic workers. and Thokoza (Ekurhuleni) to from the EFF and one each But the National Assembly talk to people… We have been from the IFP and Freedom members were not the only to Elias Motsoaledi in Soweto Front Plus. EFF members who pulled out and Sicelo in Midvaal. The House erupted in rap- their red overalls, with some “We will urgently return turous applause as Makhura members in the Gauteng legis- to these communities with a kissed and hugged his compe- lature in Joburg doing the plan to address urgent service titor, Ntombi Mekgwe. same. delivery and development Mekgwe had been the The party seemed to live up challenges,” Makhura said ANC national executive com- to its earlier threat that it yesterday during his accept- mittee’s preferred premier- would not be forced to wear ance speech. elect for Gauteng until Tues- suits and ties. The new premier spoke day, when Makhura pipped Malema asked recently why like a man who was ready to her at the post in rather dra- MPs should be refused to enter break with the past. “The matic circumstances. Parliament in overalls and be elections are over, it is now all Mekgwe was elected restricted to suits and ties. hands on deck. We will leave Speaker of the legislature. “And if the weather allows, no stone unturned as we seek She wasted no time laying we are going to wear to improve the lives of our down the law to new MPLs, makarapa (hard hats),” he said FACE-OFF: Julius Malema people and make Gauteng a especially those from the EFF. soon after the elections. and his colleagues arrive at ‘Mama Action’ better place to live in.” “There is nothing like Yesterday, EFF members Parliament dressed in their set for cabinet A drama later unfolded in ‘comrade’ or ‘fighter’ in this like newly elected MP Floyd trademark red overalls and Parliament in Cape Town House… There are rules that Shivambu complied. when Julius Malema and his apply to each member and Before entering the hard hats to show JOYCE LEE AND Economic Freedom Fighters party representatives (de- National Assembly, Shivambu solidarity with the LEBOGANG SEALE MPs arrived in red overalls, signed not to) lower the stan- said the EFF would be in Par- working class. [email protected] gumboots and hard hats. dards and decorum of the liament to represent the inter- RIGHT: President Jacob [email protected] In Gauteng, EFF MPLs House,” Mekgwe said. ests of the working class and Zuma and Deputy the poor. FORMER Gauteng premier “We are unashamedly for President Cyril Ramaphosa Nomvula Mokonyane will not be the struggles of the poor. witness the swearing-in of lost to politics. “We are here to push their Malema and other EFF The Star has reliably learnt agenda. members yesterday. that “Mama Action” will be “That is what we are prima- PICTURES: GCIS, AP deployed to serve in President rily here for,” he said. Jacob Zuma’s cabinet. On the dress code, Shiv- She is said to have resigned ambu said the working class from the Gauteng legislature and the poor should know the after Gauteng ANC provincial EFF was in Parliament to rep- secretary David Makhura was resent them. sworn in as premier yesterday. “This is not an elite House.” eng said to laughter. Sources told The Star that During the swearing-in pro- Shortly before the swear- Mokonyane might head the ceedings, Chief Justice Mogo- ing-in ceremony started, EFF Water and Forestry Department, eng Mogoeng burst out laugh- member Dali Mpofu, who identified as a service delivery ing at one point, cracking a watched proceedings from the priority in the next year. joke about the EFF attire public gallery, said the first ANC deputy secretary-general before swearing the MPs in. generation of MPs from the Jessie Duarte and treasurer Zweli “For a minute I thought you EFF was “just the beginning”. said. wanted in the future. for the first time they have Mkhize said the ANC would find were going back to get your “When this happens again, On the dress code, Mpofu “The symbolisms of the direct representatives in Par- work in the government for hat. we will be the ruling party. said it was a symbolic gesture, attires we are wearing is to liament and we are going to Mokonyane and former North OLD FRIENDS: Janet Semple (DA) gives Bonginkosi Dlamini (IFP) a “I was going to say: ‘Please “We regard ourselves as a but members would be allowed send a message to the working champion the same issues we West premier Thandi Modise. welcome-back hug at the start of the Gauteng legislature’s not that one,’ ” Justice Mogo- government in waiting,” he to dress in whatever they class and the poor to say that were championing.” induction of new MPLs. PICTURE: ANTOINE DE RAS Zille boasts 200% more women in executive – up from zero Gender commission COBUS COETZEE mosome. They could not do anything about that, as I can- alarmed by inequality PREMIER Helen Zille said she not do anything about my X had never met one of two chromosomes,” she said. STAFF REPORTER It said the drastic reduc- women she appointed to her Zille said the bottom line tion in the number of female executive yesterday, Noma- was “every single one of those THE COMMISSION on Gen- premiers was a “significant french Mbombo, the only black men worked as hard as they der Equality (CGE) said it step in the wrong direction”. she chose. But, she said, could”. was disappointed and Meanwhile, Cosatu pre- Mbombo’s CV had jumped out The two new women to the alarmed at what seemed to be empted Western Cape Pre- at her. executive are Education MEC a “clear step backwards in the mier Helen Zille’s announce- Zille also said there were Debbie Schafer and Cultural fight for gender equality” ment of her mostly male new now 200 percent more women Affairs and Sports MEC after the ANC appointed cabinet yesterday. in her executive, Nomafrench seven male premiers but only In the previous term of with the ap- Mbombo. one female on Tuesday. office, Zille had an all-male pointment of Schafer The commission said the cabinet and was slammed for the first two I’d never appoint served in the ruling party’s the appoint- females. National decision devi- ments. Yesterday, Of the ratio someone based Assembly ated from the she announced of eight men to until last practice of pro- The reduction is a two new female two women, solely on gender month and moting 50/50 appointments. Zille said she Mbombo was gender repre- significant step in On Tuesday, would not fire an academic sentation in the the wrong direction Cosatu released anyone on the basis of their at the University of the West- appointment of a statement say- being male. ern Cape. provincial pre- ing the DA was The Commission on Gender Three MECs were rede- miers. sticking to its Equality, opposition parties ployed, Donald Grant from “This comes in the wake of focus of maintaining the gen- and Cosatu have been critical Education to Transport and reported comments by IEC erational advantages of white of Zille for appointing so few Public Works; Ivan Meyer chairperson Pansy Tlakula people in the province. women. from Cultural Affairs and indicating that women consti- Cosatu said it would be Zille was elected by 27 to 14 Sport to Finance; and Alan tute only 42 percent of the taking Zille and Cape Town votes in the Western Cape Winde from Finance to Eco- OATHS: DA members Ivan Meyer and Helen Zille together with ANC MPL Cameron Dugmore and ACDP MPL Ferlon Christians taking an combined number of Na- mayor Patricia de Lille to the provincial legislature and nomic Opportunities where he oath before Judge John Hlophe during the swearing-in of new members at the Western Cape legislature yesterday.