EFF leader Julius Malema stated that the government led by the EFF would automatically exempt SASSA beneficiaries and unemployed citizens from paying for essential services such as water and electricity.
Malema emphasized that if his party gains power, it will provide free basic services for SASSA beneficiaries, including water and electricity, and guarantee that children from low-income families will not have to pay registration fees at higher education institutions.
These statements were made by Malema during a speech at the EFF Ground Forces Forum in Umzunduzi, Pietermaritzburg, as part of the party's campaign for local elections. These events take place against the backdrop of expected local elections in the country on November 4th.
Malema argued that only the EFF is capable of solving the country's problems, including high electricity tariffs. He criticized Eskom, stating that making a profit from selling electricity is not the goal, as providing electricity to people is a basic right, and profits should benefit other companies.
He compared the high cost of electricity to a form of economic exclusion, asserting that it has replaced racial discrimination of the apartheid era. Malema noted that previously people were denied electricity based on skin color, whereas today financial barriers are used for exclusion.
Malema pointed out that many households have the necessary infrastructure but cannot afford to use electricity. He observed that modern problems are exacerbated by the fact that having cables in a house does not equate to access to energy if a person cannot pay the bill.
In Malema's view, state systems should be integrated so that municipalities can automatically identify SASSA recipients and exempt them from basic service charges. He insisted that poverty information should only be recorded through SASSA, and upon identification as needy, the person should receive free services.
He objected to the need for repeated verification of financial status before municipal officials. Malema stressed that beneficiary status should be permanent, not dependent on the day the bill is paid.
Malema insisted on data exchange between government departments so that SASSA recipient status automatically grants the right to free water and electricity. He also noted that the system should automatically recognize when a child is attending school without payment, which indicates family poverty.
He questioned why families deemed poor enough for free schooling should still have to pay for utilities. Malema proposed that districts with free schools should automatically receive free municipal services until residents can find work and afford these expenses.
Furthermore, Malema criticized registration fees at universities and other higher education institutions, arguing that students from poor families should not have to pay them. He stated that children of SASSA beneficiaries and graduates of free schools should automatically have the right to enter universities without any fees.