EFF demands Minister Tau explain IDC Board picks

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has called for Trade, Industry and Competition Minister, Parks Tau to appear before Parliament to account for what it calls politically motivated appointments to the Industrial Development Corporation board.

In an open letter to the portfolio committee chairperson Mzwandile Mesina, the EFF expressed grave concern over the appointments of Ayanda Dlodlo, Nomusa Dube-Ncube and Sydney Mufamadi.

The party said all three are deeply entrenched African National Congress loyalists.

Dlodlo has held several ministerial positions including state security and public service.

Dube-Ncube is the former premier of KwaZulu-Natal and Mufamadi is a veteran ANC figure.

The EFF highlighted that Dube-Ncube was recently removed from a proposed appointment to the Bankseta board due to irregularities in her nomination.

Her swift reappointment to the IDC board suggests public institutions are being used to recycle ANC-aligned figures as political rewards, not based on skill, the party said.

“These appointments undermine the IDC role as a developmental finance institution tasked with advancing industrial transformation and inclusive growth,” according to the EFF.

The party formally requested the committee summon Tau to explain the selection process, the criteria used, and whether the appointees possess the required industrial or developmental expertise.

The EFF said the committee must prevent the erosion of governance and ensure public entities like the IDC do not become political patronage networks.