North West - The scene of the Lonmin Marikana shooting in North West has become a political battlefield, with expelled ANC Youth League president Julius Malema using it as a platform to take a swipe at President Jacob Zuma.
On Tuesday, Malema labelled Zuma as “manipulative” and expressed doubts over the commission of inquiry established to look into the killing of 34 striking miners by the police.
“I really don’t trust [Zuma’s] intervention. Normal process must be followed without any political interference,” he said.
Malema accompanied some striking workers to open cases of murder against the police at the Marikana police station on Tuesday.
He said cases were also opened against the National Union of Mineworkers, whose officials allegedly shot and killed two striking workers more than a week ago.
By pressing the charges, Malema said he had full confidence in ordinary processes that would have “no political interference”.
“This process [police investigation] will not be manipulated for a predetermined outcome. If procedures are compromised, then we can query that,” he said.
“I don’t believe in the commission of inquiry or the person [Zuma] who established it. [Zuma] is not an honest person; he established the commission of inquiry to arrive at certain conclusions.”
He was flanked by former youth league spokesman Floyd Shivambu, league secretary Sindiso Magaqa and executive member Andile Lungisa.
Asked if his attack on Zuma had anything to do with his expulsion from the party, Malema said “this has nothing to do with [his removal] but with confirmation that he [Zuma] is a weak leader”.
“Our president lacks capacity. We don’t have a president in South Africa,” he said.
Malema added that plans were under way to petition the courts to allow jailed miners to attend the funerals of their slain colleagues.
“We are doing consultations to see if we can approach a higher court to have the workers released so that they can bury their colleagues,” he said.
A group of lawyers had offered to provide free legal support to the workers. “We welcome more assistance to help these workers,” said Malema. - The Star