/ 29 April 2014

Malema warns SABC’s Motsoeneng against ‘protecting Zuma’

EFF leader Julius Malema.
EFF leader Julius Malema.

Economic Freedom Fighters’ (EFF) leader Julius Malema told SABC acting chief operations officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng on Tuesday to change his ways or risk being thrown out “like a used condom”.

“I was once in the same position, supporting and protecting Zuma. I was like you, I used to protect him,” Malema told thousands of people outside the SABC building in Auckland Park, Johannesburg.

They marched on the public broadcaster’s head office over its refusal to air an EFF television election commercial.

Motsoeneng and SABC acting chief executive Tian Olivier were there to receive a memorandum from the EFF.

Malema said: “I must warn you that he is going to throw you out like a used condom. Ask [Zwelinzima] Vavi and [Fikile] Mbalula. When it was time to dump us he did not think twice.”

Malema said Zuma only cared about himself. “If you don’t change your conduct, we will come here, put a truck outside and celebrate your dumping.”

The SABC claims the advert, which includes the slogan “destroy e-tolls physically”, incites violence.  The Independent Communications Authority of South African agreed with the SABC’s decision when the EFF challenged the decision.

‘Tribalist’
Malema accused Zuma of being a tribalist who only protected those who were Zulu and from KwaZulu-Natal. 

Malema said the fact that Motsoeneng was neither Zulu nor from Zuma’s home province made it easy for Zuma to dump him. “Zuma is a tribalist. That is why there is strategic placing in government. They [Zulus] only trust themselves. The ANC has turned into a tribalist organisation.”

He told Motsoeneng he would be sidelined after the election. Malema said the ANC government would make an example of Motsoeneng in its bid for a clean government.

“I see a planned scenario when it happens, I will be in Parliament at the time and I will welcome your suspension.”

In February, public protector Thuli Madonsela released a report titled “When governance and ethics fail”, finding that Motsoeneng irregularly and rapidly increased the salaries of various staff members, resulting in the state broadcaster footing an unprecedented salary bill escalation of R29-million.

Her investigation dwelt on Motsoeneng’s alleged irregular appointment and a crooked salary progression. – Sapa