Johannesburg - Leaders of the ANC partied, danced and mocked EFF leader Julius Malema at the ANCYL election festival held at Makhulong Stadium in Tembisa, east of Johannesburg on Saturday.
The festival was held just a kilometre away from the Mehlareng stadium where expelled African National Congress Youth League president Julius Malema's party, Economic Freedom Fighters launched its election manifesto.
ANC national executive committee member Pule Mabe said Malema was running a backyard revolution.
“Malema's is a backyard revolution... he is a surrogate, a known demagogue,” Mabe said at the festival.
Mabe was former ANCYL treasurer who worked with Malema when he was youth league leader.
He said Malema was a “commander of chancers” instead of commander-in-chief, his title at the EFF.
“He calls himself a commander-in-chief, he is actually a commander of chancers... Floyd (Shivambu) is there to be sent to do whatever (Malema) wants done.”
Shivambu, a former ANCYL spokesman, was expelled from the party along with Malema.
Malema's former ally, Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula mocked Malema and said it was wrong to leave the ANC and form a political party out of anger.
“The ANC is not about positions... positions will go and the ANC will still be here,” he said in an apparent jibe at Malema.
“The ANC is indestructible... the person who is going to defeat the ANC is not born yet.”
He said Malema and his supporters were not going to frighten the ANC.
“Everyone with a brain is here. Cope (Congress of the People) tried and still cannot beat the ANC... now our very young brothers did the same.
“They should not say we didn't warn them.”
Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba said the ANC's enemies wanted to take the country backwards and are against the party's policies.
“They do no want the National Health Insurance (NHI), the youth incentive scheme and land reform among others, and want to take us steps backwards.”
He said it was cold outside the ANC, and called on supporters to go and vote for the party.
Popular local musicians entertained the leaders and the party supporters.
Young and old danced to performances by Dr Malinga, Zahara, Uhuru, Solly Mahlangu, Candy, Busiswa, Solly Moholo, DJ Blackcoffee, DJ Sbu and Big Nuz.
The concert kicked off immediately after speakers addressed the supporters, who donned yellow African National Congress t-shirts handed out to them earlier.
An announcer told supporters that the musicians were all members of the ruling party. - Sapa