The EFF third National People's Assembly has seen Julius Malema re-elected as the CIC again at the People's Assembly, held under strict military conditions for the 2 570 delegates from branches across the country in attendance. 

The three day elective conference has been underway at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg where delegates were deliberating over the success and challenges the party faced in the last five years especially their poor performance in the May general elections where their support dropped to 9.62%. 

LOOSING TO MK PARTY

Since the May general elections the party has been bleeding members, a long list of members and prominent party leaders including deputy president Floyd Shivambu, Dali Mpofu, Busisiwe Mkhwebane, Mzwandile Manyi have since left the party to join the MK party since its formation a year ago. 

This will see the vacant position of the former deputy president Floyd Shivambu to be filled likely by the former secretary general of the party Godrich Gardee.

Malema remains uncontested, the secretary general of the party Marshall Dlamini while Omphile Maotwe is contesting the position of treasure.Nontando Nolutshungu for chairperson and Leigh-Ann Mathys is contesting for Deputy secretary. The process will be overseen by IEMSA and expected to kick-off with the nomination of the top six on Saturday night. 

STRICT RULES

The conference is held under strict rules for both leaders and candidates. Delegates are not allowed to speak to the media about any issue discussed in the assembly without authorisation by the steering committee or leak confidential information to the media or have secret interactions with journalists with the intention to get them to write stories on internal organisational issues. 

They are not allowed to bring banners, posters, or placards in support or against any member. They are barred from convening a party to celebrate anything resolved at the assembly. They also not allowed to sleep during proceedings of the assembly plenary session and commissions. 

On Friday party members were forced to sit through a almost four presentation of the political report consisting of 80 pages which was presented by Malema. 

Unlike with other conferences held by different political parties where members could be seen roaming around the venue even consuming alcohol, EFF members exercised order and participated in commissions while sober. 

Part of the people not allowed to bring or drink alcohol at the premises of the National People's Assembly. 

The nominated members are not allowed to raise funds to campaign or distribute money to members and structures as part of their campaign. 

Of the 2 570 delegates, only 2 243 delegates qualified to participate with 2026 present and 217 delegates submitted apologies as they are committed elsewhere.

POST MATRIC LEADERS

Malema said those who are nominated but not at the conference may submit letters to accept their nominations.Malema said they are not planning to form new structures like women's league or unions.

?We have identified that there are people who when they fail to be elected into the central command team they demand for the formation of new structures as an opportunity to lead,? he said. 

He added that only members with a post matric qualification will hold key positions in the party. 

?We are not going to have illiterate leaders, former president Jacob Zuma must be a good example. He is a mistake we must never commit ever again. 

We want to give the country the best of the best leaders,? he said.