/ 27 September 2012

Malema for president? God help us, says Mthembu

ANC spokesperson Jackson Mthembu says Julius Malema should never lead South Africa.
ANC spokesperson Jackson Mthembu says Julius Malema should never lead South Africa.

ANC spokesperson Jackson Mthembu says it will be a dark day for the country if expelled ANC Youth League president Julius Malema ever comes to power.

"Can you imagine Julius Malema becoming president of the country? Oh, dear God, may that day never dawn in our lifetime, or that of our children," Mthembu said in an interview with TV channel eNCA on Wednesday.

According to a Beeld report on Thursday, he also said Malema should never have been an ANC member because he was a bad person.

Malema should stop lobbying opinion on whether President Jacob Zuma should be nominated as ANC leader, Mthembu said.

"He's not even a member of the ANC. He can't nominate anybody. People join the ANC voluntarily but then they're required to maintain certain values and Julius couldn't do it."

Mthembu also warned any ANC leaders against supporting Malema, who faces charges of money laundering.

"He's too factious … he thinks he's everything. He might support a leader now but he'll do a complete about-face within three years," he said.

Found to be false
Limpopo Premier Cassel Mathale is adamant that the charge of money-laundering against Malema will eventually be found to be false, according to the South African Broadcasting Corporation's radio reports.

"We are … happy with our friend who appeared [in court] and was given a charge which we believe over time … [he will appear in court for] and clear his name," he said.

"Analysts … analyse it [Malema's appearance] in a manner in which you can see anger. It is not influenced or guided by any other thing but the hatred of a man."

Mathale proclaimed his support for Malema during a fundraising event hosted by the Peter Mokaba region of the ANC in Limpopo on Wednesday night.

Malema was granted bail of R10 000 by the Polokwane Regional Court on Wednesday after being officially charged with money laundering.

He proclaimed his innocence to supporters outside the court and insisted that the charge was part of a "politically motivated" plan to silence him. – Sapa