Malema expects to be disciplined

African National Congress Youth League chief Julius Malema. Photo: Bongiwe Mchunu

African National Congress Youth League chief Julius Malema. Photo: Bongiwe Mchunu

Published Nov 1, 2010

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Julius Malema’s latest tirade against Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi on Saturday is expected to be a prime topic when the ANC’s national working committee meets on Monday.

This follows earlier steps taken by the ANC leadership to ban public spats between Tripartite Alliance members.

In Stellenbosch at the weekend, speaking at a rally to mark the 66th anniversary of the ANC Youth League, Malema hinted at possibly being disciplined “in two weeks time”.

He was referring to the next meeting of the ANC’s national executive committee on November 8 which may consider whether to pursue disciplinary charges against him and other ANCYL members.

The move follows the “storming of the podium” by a group led by Malema at September’s meeting of the national general council in Durban.

On Saturday Malema held no punches when he attacked Vavi and Helen Zille and likened the Western Cape premier to a “cockroach”.

Addressing a crowd of fewer than 1 000 at the Cloetesville Stadium, Malema said: “You have put the cockroach in cabinet. People of the Western Cape, we are asking you to bring Doom to remove this cockroach… And Doom means voting for the ANC.”

Malema also accused Cosatu under Vavi’s leadership of doing the DA’s work.

But Vavi said he was “neither surprised nor disappointed” at the attack which claimed among others that:

* Vavi was corrupt owing to his wife’s business interests.

* He was running “amok”.

* Vavi was against successful black business people but said nothing of white business people and their excesses.

* He was planning to launch his own political party.

Vavi said on Sunday he would continue speaking out against corruption in public.

“These are the things they talk about when they’re in these rooms with scantily clad women,” said Vavi.

He was referring to the recent party hosted in Johannesburg by businessman and ex-convict Kenny Kunene, reportedly at a cost of R700 000 at which sushi was served on the bodies of scantily clad women.

Cosatu’s second deputy president Zungisa Losi also condemned Kunene’s party for reinforcing sexist attitudes to women.

“These half-naked women are being treated as sex objects – little more than party accessories, to decorate the room and provide some lewd enjoyment to the invited men, as they enjoyed their sushi, champagne and whisky,” said Losi.

Vavi said his was not the only voice against corruption by powerful individuals connected to the ANC. Ordinary card-carrying members had also expressed their anger.

“(Ordinary) members of the ANC are gatvol at corruption. When we speak (against corruption), we speak in support of ANC resolutions,” said Vavi about his outspokenness on the issue.

Zille on sunday repeated an earlier statement that she would not get into the “gutter” with Malema.

“Political debate should not be about hurling insults at one’s opponents. Political debate should be about how we can tackle poverty, create jobs and improve skills in SA.”

Zille said Zuma had to decide whether Julius Malema’s brand of political interaction was acceptable to the ANC.

Asked whether Zuma had expressed unhappiness at Malema’s attacks on both Zille and Vavi, his spokesman Zizi Kodwa said the ANC did not go to rallies to analyse speeches.

“Julius speaks on behalf of the youth league and I’m not aware of any concerns raised by the president, and even if he had any, he would not address them in public.”

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