Malema row shows 'discord' in ANC
2011-03-29 17:08
-
The Da Vinci Method
Break Out & Express Your Fire. Discover and master the fiery temperament shared by great leaders.
Now R289.00
buy now
Johannesburg - The Democratic Alliance says the controversy over ANC Youth
League leader Julius Malema's alleged criticism of President Jacob Zuma regarding
the government's stance on Libya is the latest sign of "discord" in
the ANC, "underscoring yet again that the ANC is at war with itself".
"There has been a significant increase in the public airing of
grievances among members of the tripartite alliance of late," DA MP Wilmot
James said.
"The consequences of a party at war with itself is that it is incapable
of delivering to its constituency."
The Star newspaper reported on Tuesday that Malema had criticised Zuma in
reference to the situation in Libya at a weekend conference in Limpopo, a move
that could land him in hot water with the ANC.
'Bad advisers'
"South Africa voted in favour of imperialists, and we cannot smile
about that.
"The ANC of Nelson Mandela would never have voted for the killing of
fellow Africans imposed by our former masters," he reportedly said.
"Since he got into power, comrade Zuma has been surrounded by bad
advisers.
"I'm dismayed and shocked at the way our country makes its decisions.
How can they vote for the interests of the [United Nations] and the United
States of America, a country which clearly wants control over oil
reserves?"
In May, Malema had to make a public apology to Zuma after criticising him in
public.
An ANC disciplinary committee also warned him that, should he be found
guilty of contravening rule 25.5 (i) of the ANC constitution within the next
two years, his membership would be summarily suspended.
Rumours
Earlier on Tuesday, the ANC questioned why it should take disciplinary
action against Malema based on "rumours".
"Why would we be taking disciplinary action on the basis of allegations
that are made? We don't act on rumours," said African National Congress
spokesman Jackson Mthembu.
"All we are saying is, even if we were to take disciplinary action, we
won't tell you," said Mthembu.
ANC Youth League spokesperson Floyd Shivambu questioned the accuracy of
Tuesday's newspaper report.
Shivambu said Malema had criticised the government's support of a UN no-fly
zone resolution in Libya, where leader Muammar Gaddafi's rule is under attack.
He said Malema had not personally attacked Zuma.
"He [Malema] never said that. He never said anything about all those
things," Shivambu said of the report in The Star, claiming that The Star
reporter was not at the conference.
"The ANC Youth League is in possession of an unedited video footage of
the address by [the] ANCYL president and it shows that there was no mention of
President Jacob Zuma on the address."
The Star defended its report, saying that three journalists worked on its
story and that one of them attended the conference and had made notes of
Malema's comments.
- SAPA
