‘ANCYL saved Zuma from prison’

The ANCYL saved President Jacob Zuma from a prison sentence, expelled league president Julius Malema claims in an interview published in the Sunday Times.

Malema was not convinced the “spy tapes”, cited as the reason that corruption charges against Zuma were dropped in 2008, really existed.

“Actually, we went to fetch him from a prison door,” Malema said.

According to Malema, Zuma “does not have what it takes” to serve as president and the thought of another term for Zuma was “scary and traumatic”.

Having once proclaimed that he would “kill for Zuma”, he apologised for endorsing a Zuma presidency, claiming it was “a mistake” on the part of the league.

The ANCYL's support for Zuma was based on his apparent “courage” against then-president Thabo Mbeki's bid for a third term in office.

“That courage was very personal. It was informed by personal fear of being arrested and going to prison.”

Malema claimed Zuma had “nothing to lose” because he knew if he became president “chances are that you will not be arrested”.

Malema said both Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe and Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale had the qualities necessary for the presidency. The ANC elects its new leaders at its elective conference in Mangaung in December. - Sapa