WATCH: When Malema accused Zuma of dictatorship while still in ANCYL
As we commemorate the anniversary of OR Tambo's death, the ANCYL may also be remembering the day they lost a leader in Malema.
Julius Malema. Picture: Yeshiel Panchia
Today marks 24 years since the passing of former president of the ANC Oliver Tambo after a stroke at the age of 75. The leader is still praised for his good leadership, something the ANC has moved away from, according to Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, who has urged the party to change its ways or suffer another major loss at the 2019 elections.
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This day also marks five years since Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader, then ANCYL president, was expelled from the ANC for allegedly sowing division and bringing the party into disrepute.
Following his expulsion, some ANC leaders, such as Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza and the party’s national executive committee (NEC) member, Ruth Bhengu, have come out saying the ruling party had made a mistake in expelling him.
Since starting his own party, the EFF leader has been a headache for the ruling party, especially President Jacob Zuma, who he has called, among other things, being corrupt and illiterate. But he, in fact, began with his criticism of the president while he was still the ANCYL president, as heard in a speech accusing Zuma of dictatorship and intolerance.
Watch the video below:
There have been several rumours that Malema will return to the ANC, provided they agree with his terms and conditions. But Malema has reiterated time and time again that he will not be going back to the ruling party. In fact, he does not feel he should, as his party has been following in former ANC leaders’ footsteps.
“We’re following in the footsteps of [Robert] Sobukwe, Steve Biko, and all great giants that fought for our freedom.”
The problem with the ANC, according to the EFF leader, is that they indoctrinate people to an extent that they think it is only them in South Africa and everybody else does not exist.
“And you come to realise that once you’re outside that, jissus, we’ve been denied a rich history. We’re being denied a rich history of this country of so many great giants who fought for our freedom.
“We shouldn’t die for a name, we shouldn’t be obsessed that we want to be in the ANC because it can only be achieved in the ANC. It can be achieved for as long as you’ve got the collective which has got a political will to achieve that which a generation before us set to achieve.”
Watch the full interview below:
