/ 9 October 2012

Malema attacks Zuma for not respecting Constitution

Former ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema.
Former ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema.

"How can Zuma ask miners to respect the Constitution if he does not," Malema asked striking mineworkers in Virginia in the Free State. He was referring to a recent Constitutional Court judgment that found invalid the appointment of Menzi Simelane as national director of public prosecutions. 

In reading the unanimous judgment, Judge Zak Yacoob said the court reached a number of legal conclusions, including that the NDPP's appointment was not a matter to be determined by the subjective opinion of the president.

Malema told the miners Zuma hired Simelane against the guidelines stipulated by the Constitution. It was Zuma's responsibility to protect the Constitution, yet he ignored it.

Malema was addressing a group at the Meloding Stadium. Many women and children were among the striking workers who arrived to hear him talk.

Malema referred to a recent court decision when the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) was ordered to hand over tapes to the Democratic Alliance in relation to corruption charges against Zuma being dropped.

The NPA dropped the charges against Zuma just before he was elected ANC president and president of the country.

Malema severely criticised Zuma for the reported R203-million upgrades to his Nkandla home in KwaZulu-Natal. He said this amounted to stealing and was not right. "They want to give you [miners] R16 000 but they give another man R250-million to build a house," Malema told the striking workers.

He asked why Zuma's other three homes, in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town, sustained by the state, could not be used for international visitors.

"Who goes to Nkandla of all places? There's no wisdom there, nothing to learn, unless its about cultural aspects," Malema said.

He told the miners that their struggle was his struggle. He also urged the community to stand by the striking workers. – Sapa