Malema warns: Mbalula going for the kill to be ANC president

EFF Leader Julius Malema said ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula is on course to become the next ANC president if no major intervention takes place. Malema was addressing a press conference in Johannesburg on Thursday where he raised concerns about the influence and strength Mbalula has within the governing party.

Malema said him and Mbalula who are leaders who previously served as presidents of the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) come from the same political background and share the same organisational approach. He told journalists that Mbalula has been allowed to consolidate power and was now ahead of other contenders.

“I warned you that this Mbalula is allowed to do what he is doing. He is going to lead them. Mbalula is going to be president of the ANC if there is no serious intervention made to stop him. If it was a marathon Mbalula is ahead. Paul Mashatile (deputy President ) is trying to catch up. I do not know how he will catch up because you see him,” Malema said.

He also referred to the ongoing ANC National General Council (NGC) taking place in Boksburg. Malema said the way the gathering was organised showed signs of what he called mshikashika.

Earlier in the week ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa presented his Political Report to the NGC while Mbalula delivered his Mid term Report. After Mbalula concluded his address delegates broke into song praising him. Ramaphosa joined the singing.

Leading up to the NGC there were reports that some ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) members wanted Ramaphosa removed as leader. Malema said some people described the reception Ramaphosa received at the NGC as a show of force. Malema said the events were in fact a show of force by Mbalula.

“That was Mbalula’s show of force. You said it was Ramaphosa’s show of force because there are people who said they are going to remove him. He did not get removed. No. It was never about that. Mbalula wanted to show them that he is in charge,” Malema said.

He told journalists he understood these events because he had been part of similar processes when he was in the ANC. He referred to an NGC held in KwaZulu-Natal where he said he and his allies defeated Jacob Zuma (former President) in numbers and in policy positions. Malema said Zuma realised from that point that they would try to remove him.

He said Zuma then expelled them before the Mangaung Conference because the NGC outcome gave Zuma a message about the direction of support.

Malema said former ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe told Zuma that Malema and his group were not pretending to remove Mantashe but were targeting Zuma. Malema said this was correct because although they criticised Mantashe their intention was to challenge Zuma. Malema said they won the KwaZulu-Natal NGC.

“We got expelled and that is how Kgalema Motlanthe (former deputy President) lost the Mangaung Conference,” Malema said.

Malema said he was giving the background so that journalists could understand that ANC conferences are won before the actual conference. He said the current political situation showed that Mbalula was on course to emerge as president.

“Mbalula is going for a kill. He is going to emerge as a president unless something drastic happens. I am telling you what is prevailing now. The balance of forces shows that Mbalula is going to be a president,” Malema said.

He also described what he observed at the NGC during the week. According to him Mbalula addressed delegates for two hours and thirty minutes while Ramaphosa sat and listened. Malema said this showed how Mbalula was asserting himself in the presence of the sitting president.

Malema said after Mbalula completed his address delegates started singing in praise of the secretary general while Ramaphosa looked on.

“To make matters worse when Mbalula finished speaking they start singing about the secretary general Mbalula in the presence of the president. What happens. The president is forced by the environment to sing about Mbalula. You did not see what was happening there,” Malema said.

Malema demonstrated how the delegates sang the song “unobhala thina sifuna unobhala” while Ramaphosa joined them. Journalists laughed when he showed them how the singing unfolded.

Malema said the situation made it clear where the power in the ANC currently lies. He said at one point Mantashe tried to stop the song but delegates continued singing and moved towards the podium.

“The sitting president was to sing about the secretary general and then you tell me where the power is,” Malema said.

He said Mashatile who has said he is a contender was also made to sing. Malema said the EFF is ready to enter the Government of National Unity but Mbalula remains a challenge adding that Ramaphosa is not a problem.