ANC Youth League president Julius Malema was involved in a car accident this week that he and his close associates believe was an assassination attempt. The Mail & Guardian understands Malema’s car sustained serious damage in the accident and that his bodyguards have been replaced.
The accident, between Hammanskraal and Pretoria, took place while Malema was being transported in his Range Rover by members of the police VIP protection unit on Monday, police spokesperson Vish Naidoo confirmed to the M&G.
Malema was travelling with two VIP police protection guards on his way back to Johannesburg from the ANC Youth League conference in Polokwane when the accident occurred.
The accident was caused by a tyre bursting, Naidoo said. No injuries were reported.
Malema believes the accident was an attempt on his life, according to a youth league leader who did not want to be named.
The M&G has established that the two VIP police guards with Malema at the time of the accident have since been replaced because Malema no longer trusts them.
‘Funny sound’
According to the youth league insider, Malema noticed a funny sound while the car was in motion, shortly before the accident. “He alerted the VIP guards about this but they assured him there was nothing wrong,” the insider said. “A few minutes after that there was a huge sound from the tyre burst and the car veered [off its course].”
Malema escaped uninjured and resumed his journey in a back-up car that had been behind the Range Rover when the accident happened. The insider said that Malema’s car was seriously damaged.
Naidoo said police have not launched an investigation into the accident because it did not involve a state vehicle. He refused to comment about the removal of the two VIP guards assigned to protect Malema.
“We do not comment on the nature of the security we provide to politicians. This is purely for security reasons. Security matters remain security matters. [If we reveal the details] it can come back to haunt us,” said Naidoo.
Widespread anger
Malema has had 24-hour security protection from the VIP unit since last year, after a threat analysis conducted by crime intelligence officers indicated he needed to be protected.
In the past few weeks Malema has angered a wide range of groups, including opposition party leaders, ANC alliance partners and farmers with the persistent singing of the Kill the Boer struggle song.
Earlier this month Malema reportedly received an SMS from an unnamed source saying that a Delmas farmer was offering a R2-million reward to anyone who killed Malema. The ANC took this threat sufficiently seriously to report it to Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa, the party said at the time.
In Ventersdorp this week some signboards were spray-painted with “Kill Malema” graffiti. And Pan Africanist Congress youth leader Pitso Mphasha recently vowed to have Malema killed after Malema claimed the PAC had hijacked the ANC anti-pass demonstration in 1960 that led to the Sharpeville massacre.
ANC Youth League spokesperson Floyd Shivambu said he hoped the accident was not an attempt on Malema’s life. “But we are not going to leave it lying like that. We will have to take action.
“We are ready to act. We are not chickened-out by threats from Afrikaners. We are on guard. People must stop trying to kill the youth league president. We are watching this very closely,” said Shivambu.
He added: “This thing of putting a price tag on the head of the president must come to an end.”