Et tea, Julius? EFF leaders are disgruntled with the meeting Julius Malema had with Jacob Zuma for tea last week. (Darren Stewart/Gallo)
The Economic Freedom Fighters’ highest decision-making body, its central command team (CCT) was apparently not consulted on its leader Julius Malema’s recent visit to former president Jacob Zuma’s homestead in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal.
Sources within the team, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of intimidation, said they were “frustrated” when they learned that the party’s leader would be having tea with Zuma.
Two EFF councillors who spoke about the recent developments surrounding the two political leaders said they were “disappointed” with Malema, adding that he had “gone too far” by not consulting with the party’s central command team.
An insider said the top six was not a structure empowered to take a decision to stand alongside the former statesman.
The insider added that, after speaking to party members inside the central command team, they were confused by the decision.
“What I know is that he makes calculated and strategic moves. There is obviously a bigger reason that would have necessitated the CiC [commander-in-chief] going to Nkandla. I am just as confused as everyone else. That, to me, is the disappointing part. This tea not only has historical significance, but it speaks to what the EFF is about.
“What I know is that the CiC does not do something unless it benefits him and his upward movement. However, given the nature of our relationship with the former president, perceived or otherwise, the right thing to do would have been to consult the leadership and for him to hear our opinion as party leaders and members in good standing,” the insider said.
The meeting, which took place on Friday last week, was expected to offer an opportunity for Malema to convince Zuma to appear before the state capture commission on 15 February.
The Mail & Guardian previously reported how Zuma wrote to the state capture commission chair, Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, announcing his plans to defy the Constitutional Court judgment, which ruled that he testify at the commission.
While Zuma fights his own battles with the Judiciary, the EFF’s top leaders are also in the commission’s gaze, as emerged when the Sunday Times reported in October that the commission had subpoenaed bank records of Malema and his deputy, Floyd Shivambu, from all major banks.
The EFF has boasted over the years of having been champions of the “Zuma must fall” campaign, which influenced his recall as state president after his successor, Cyril Ramaphosa was elected as ANC leader.
The party led a fierce campaign to oust Zuma during his terms in office calling him a “constitutional delinquent”. During this time, the party’s parliamentary caucus frequently disrupted proceedings, often being forced out of parliament during the State of the Nation address.
The feud between Malema and Zuma stemmed from the former’s days as ANC youth league president.
Three sources who sit in the party’s central command team told the M&G that Malema’s “behaviour” was part of his “modus operandi of operating outside of party structures”.
One EFF member, who sits on the war council — a structure similar to the ANC’s national working committee — said they were shocked to see a tweet by Malema inviting Zuma for tea last week.
“You would think that a decision like this that could have far-reaching implications for the party would be taken at war council level or, [at] the very least, there would be consultation,” the party leader said.
All three command team members suggested that the top six leaders in the party were acting unilaterally.
Another party leader added that the decision was similar to Malema’s decision to donate 33% of the party’s public representatives’ salaries to contribute to the fight against Covid-19 without consultation.
“It was a very hard time, especially for our councillors. It’s not easy to be told that you have to work just as hard for less pay at a time when the economy is battered. A lot of people came to me to ask why they had to suffer so harshly when it appears that commissars are living well, and I could not answer them because I also did not know.
“It’s the type of environment that we have here. One person or a few leaders make decisions in corners, and we have to live with it without question,” the CCT member said.
Shortly after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a national state of disaster, he encouraged businesses and individuals to donate money to the solidarity fund, which would use its funds to aid those most affected by the countrywide lockdown. It was then that the EFF announced that all its public representatives, including MPs, MPLs and councillors would contribute a third of their salaries towards the fund.
EFF spokesperson Vuyani Pambo refused to comment on the matter only saying that the EFF leader had met Zuma for tea.
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