The African National Congress (ANC) “strongly condemned” ANC Youth League president Julius Malema’s treatment of a BBC journalist, a spokesperson said on Friday.
“The aggressive and insultive [sic] behaviour to the said journalist that culminated with Mr Fisher walking out of the youth league press briefing cannot be condoned at all,” said spokesperson Jackson Mthembu in a statement.
The ruling party issued a strongly worded response to the incident at an ANCYL media briefing on Thursday.
“The unfortunate outburst by Comrade Julius Malema did not only reflect negatively on him, but also reflected negatively on the ANCYL, the entire ANC family, our alliance partners as well as South Africa in the eyes of the international community.”
Malema called BBC journalist Jonah Fisher a “bastard” and an “agent” before booting him out of the media briefing.
This was after Fisher had quipped that Malema lived in Sandton, while the youth league president chastised Zimbabwean political party the Movement for Democratic Change for operating out of offices in Sandton, an upmarket area in Johannesburg.
“The behaviour in question by the ANCYL president is not in keeping with the culture and traditions, as well as conduct, of a cadre and leader of the ANC.
“No amount of alleged provocation that was directed to Comrade Julius Malema could justify such a response.
“We are of a firm view that this matter could have been handled differently.
“The leadership abilities and qualities of the position that Comrade Julius Malema holds should have prepared him to deal with the issue in a manner that demonstrated leadership,” Mthembu said.
He also condemned “whatever provocation” had emanated from the said journalist. — Sapa