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Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale. Photo: Sizwe Ndingane
Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale says he did not appear before the ANC’s disciplinary committee to support Julius Malema, but to defend the principles that underpin the ANC constitution.
Addressing the Foreign Correspondents Association in Joburg on Wednesday night, Sexwale expressed disillusionment with the media for repeatedly claiming he had ruined his political future and any bid for the presidency by his “support” for Malema.
All headlines claiming that “Tokyo supports Malema” were misleading, he said, as he lamented the “poverty in newsrooms” caused by what he called the disastrous failure of media houses to train and keep experienced journalists.
Sexwale also urged all those aggrieved with the Protection of State Information Bill to let the Constitutional Court decide on its constitutionality.
“It’s not a betrayal to challenge the bill in the Constitutional Court. Let Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng and his colleagues have the final say. As politicians we don’t have the final say,” said Sexwale.
He confirmed he had voted for the bill, despite his acknowledgement that its lack of a public interest defence was a valid concern.
“People have been saying, ‘Tokyo, you have destroyed all your chances of becoming president’,” he said, referring to his testimony to the disciplinary committee.
“I didn’t know so many people expect me to be president,” he said, to laughter from his audience.
“Perhaps I look like presidential material.”
He did not need to be president to serve the people. He could do so in any position, Sexwale said.
While refusing to give details of his evidence before the disciplinary committee, he said he strongly believed the ANC constitution had not been properly observed in the manner the disciplinary charges were brought against the ANC Youth League leaders. All he wanted to see was even-handedness in the ANC’s disciplinary processes.
If the ANC could forgive apartheid-era murderers, he did not see any reason why loudmouthed youths should not be forgiven.
He was annoyed by the “selective leaking” of his evidence by those wanting to expose him as a blind supporter of Malema and by claims that he did not understand the ANC constitution.
Those responsible for the leak could have done better, he said, by leaking the transcript of his entire evidence to enable people to contextualise what he had said.
He understood the party’s constitution well as he had been a long-time member of the ANC. It was his good grasp of the constitution that led him to appear for Malema at the hearing.
Asked whether he would stand against President Jacob Zuma or any other candidate if nominated by ANC branches, Sexwale said he would give careful thought and consideration to any such nomination and the motives for it.
“Things fall apart when principles founder,” he said, adding that his entire career had been underpinned by respect for principles.
He criticised media houses for “juniorising newsrooms” and for not investing in training.”We have reporters and not journalists in these newsrooms,” he said.
As a result, sensationalism and overreliance on unnamed “sources” were the order of day.
Sexwale also scoffed at claims that he had bankrolled Malema and offered a cash reward of R1 billion to anyone who could authenticate a media report that he had paid R5 million to liquidate Malema’s tax arrears.
Veteran journalist and former Johannesburg bureau chief for CNN, Charlayne Hunter-Gault, asked if Malema’s lavish lifestyle was not a bad influence on the youth. Sexwale said he did not know anything about Malema’s lifestyle other than what he read in the media.
“I have never been to his house.” - Independent Foreign Service
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Anonymous, wrote
...another bloodsucking leech!
Anonymous, wrote
Methinks Tokyo played his hand with regard to backing Malema so he would support Tokyo's bid for presidency too soon and did not expect Malema to lose. Now he trying desparately to backtrack and cover his butt!!
fedupsa, wrote
what a lot of bullsh - your are a fcking liar
Anonymous, wrote
@ Lee. Well said. People must just be careful of this CAPE COBRA (TOKYO) Its too dangerous. Tokyo you you like attention.
Anonymous, wrote
Sexwale said he did not know anything about Malema’s lifestyle other than what he read in the media. OK then Tokyo you would have seen what he was wearing and also the cost of his Breitling and Hublot watches, designer suits and BBBEE shoes etc. Oh and you can't let anyone believe you didn't see the pics of him in Mautritius wearing his Barney suit???
peter, wrote
Tokyo I really think that you have lost the plot to many lies and crap coming out of your mouth, I guess you went to the same dishonest school Robbin Island , with mac maharaj and the rest of the anc cadres, no hope for this country with people like you in this giovernment.??????
Amatshevane, wrote
Truth need not be rewarded because truth is pure. If Baba Sexwale, you are so rich to pay a reward of Rl billion just to clear yourself up for what you said in your evidence, in defence of Malema (remember, Sir you were a defence witness)why don't you splash that money to help the poor build some shelter for themselves? It will be a kind humanitarian gesture from your side, over and above finances provided by the government for the portfolio (Human Settlement)that you are responsible for. Remember that there were two sides at the hearing of Malema - the (State) -which was the DC and the accused - defendant(Malema). And if you were summoned by the team defending Malema, then surely you defended Malema. The constitution of the ANC was not facing any disciplinary action. Do not under-estimate our intelligence, please, Tokyo.
Anonymous, wrote
what ever!!!!!!!!!!!
Anonymous, wrote
If Tokyo's efforts will bear fruits in getting rid of this Zulu-boy, then I will support him all the way, I'm sick to death of this Zuma........
Jonn, wrote
Tokyo doing his own spindoctoring. Watch him turn again should Malema ever get into position of power again. Who could ever trust a man like that?
Anonymous, wrote
Then Tokyo it is time that you put deed to word and defend the countries constitution and stop backing a racist because as far as I know, that is exactly what our CONSTITUTION is all about!
Maqetuka, wrote
Tokyo getting abit worried now, shouldnt have made your presidential ambitions so obvious. I'd also be eating my words now eish
Claude, wrote
This week has really brought the scum up to the surface. First Trevor, with the secrecy bill, and now Tokyo with this bulldust. All running for the hills in self preservation mode.
beicime, wrote
Not realy, you sided with Malema to get his support for your ambitions to the presidency and having bet on the wrong horse you are backtracking.
Anonymous, wrote
As all have seen from the past ANC shennigans. Who can believe and trust anybody who is a member of the ANC?
me and me alone, wrote
Yes Tokyo,I admired you at one stage for taking the reigns with regards to poorly built houses,having them knocked down and rebuilding them.You had these matters at heart soley for the Anc and not for the people. You are perhaps a great businees man but at times,I think you are brutally harsh and rude in a lot of your debates and utterances.We are all residing in this country and let me tell you,we are certainly not that dumb to see you for who you really are.You and others have a knack of saying things but once you arediculed by the media,you turn on them saying that that is not what you meant and that they should take note of what you have said and not turn it around.You yourself say things and then you deny or put the blame on the media for inturprating you incorectly.Maybe you should sit down,make your speaches and put pen to paper before saying something which you will later deny as having said
Anonymous, wrote
Lets be practical. What comrade Tokyo is doing to me he is defending the ANC constitution. He is spot on right unless if you are not the member of the ANC you wouldn't understand. Media house leave it to the ANC to clean themselves out.
Troppie, wrote
Ano...; shame if he can't write how he read? That is typical of the canonfodder voting ANC crooks,and corrupticians in..
Paul, wrote
I'm really tired of these idiots wrecking any future the country might have... Mucking around instead of actually addressing issues...
Ano, wrote
I only realize that 90% of the people that comment about ANC Issues are not even know ANC, they read about it on the papers and yesternight on the same web they said appeal of the youth leage has been logged and now they are not sure.guys don't just jump out of what media says
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