ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema has launched savage attacks on both Premier Helen Zille and Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi at two events in the Cape Winelands.
At a rally in Stellenbosch yesterday Malema called Zille, the DA leader, “a cockroach” and a representative of the past and apartheid, who must be “removed from power”.
He addressed thousands of ANC Youth League supporters at a rally marking the 66th anniversary of the youth league in Cloetesville in Stellenbosch. He appeared on stage with Zuma for the first time since the ANC’s mid-term National General Council (NGC) in Durban last month, where tensions between the two were evident.
Yesterday, both Zuma and Malema notably refrained from making statements about each other, and instead directed their criticism towards the media, Zille and Vavi.
At a gala dinner at L’ermitage Franschhoek Chateau and Villas the night before, Malema defended Kenny Kunene, who had been lashed by Vavi over his extravagant birthday party where sushi had been served on scantily clad women. Malema attended the party.
Vavi had said the conspicuous consumption “sickened” him.
Malema said Vavi should focus on union matters rather than “attack” successful black business people. “We will never stop partying,” Malema said. “We are young. It is our responsibility. We will never apologise for it,” Malema said.
About 60 people attended Friday night’s dinner, which included business people and ANC dignitaries.
Malema also used the occasion to tar Zille and Vavi with the same brush over their separate crusades against corruption. “Helen Zille no longer has a job to do because a union leader is doing the job for her. It is opposition from within casting doubt on the credibility of his people’s government.”
Calling Zille a “cockroach” yesterday, Malema said: “You have put a cockroach in cabinet and we need to remove that cockroach. We are not friends with Helen Zille, we will never be friends with Helen Zille… We have no respect for Helen Zille. Why are we asked to respect a person who gives our people open toilets… That woman (Zille) is a representative of the past and a representative of apartheid.”
Without mentioning Vavi’s name, he said: “We are tired of one man, who is just running amok here in South Africa. One unionist who’s looting us, who’s vandalising us…”
Zille’s response was: “I’m not getting into the gutter with Julius.” Vavi could not be reached for comment. - Weekend Argus