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ANC stalwart Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. Photo: Jacques Naude.

ANC veteran Winnie Madikizela-Mandela has spoken out against the ANC leadership’s disciplinary process against Julius Malema.

In a stirring acceptance speech of the 2011 National Heritage Council Ubuntu Award at Gallagher Estate on Friday night, Madikizela-Mandela said no other leader of the ANC Youth League had had to endure such treatment. “No other leader of the youth has gone through what you have,” she said.

For the second time in fewer than 16 months, ANC officials have charged Malema for sowing divisions within the ANC and bringing the party into disrepute. He was previously charged and found guilty, and received a suspended sentence.

His disciplinary hearing will resume on October 6. However, Madikizela-Mandela wants him to liberate the country: “come to me and I will show you how,” she said.

Praising “the transformative leadership” of Sonwabile Mancotywa, the head of the National Heritage Council, and calling for more social and government activists of his calibre, she said: “I hope you are listening, my grandson Julius.”

She said she hoped her award would make women more visible and, to great applause, announced: “It is time for a woman president in South Africa.” When asked from the floor who this would be, she smiled.

Malema, posing for a photograph with Bantu Holomisa, the United Democratic Movement leader, said: “This picture of me and General Holomisa is very important because I am following in his footsteps.”

Holomisa, a former ANC deputy minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, was expelled from the ANC for misconduct and bringing the movement into disrepute in September 1996. He was axed after implicating the late Public Enterprises minister, Stella Sigcau, in corruption when she was a Transkei homeland government minister, in his testimony to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Holomisa is among the members of the ANCYL who have been nurtured by Madikizela-Mandela. She was “a kingmaker”, said Holomisa.

Malema made it plain that her support was not unconditional. “Don’t think we are not getting lashings from her. We are told how we should carry ourselves, and we’re happy. Mama’s control is very well known, well documented. She’s very honest,” he said.

“If you cannot take the hurt (caused by this honesty) you should not be in politics,” he added.

Malema was “the only president in the room”, said Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula, before speaking on behalf of Arts and Culture Minister Paul Mashatile. Mbalula had his own experience with Madikizela-Mandela, who “like every mother, is caring but not sparing”. - Maureen Isaacson