Mbalula calls Maimane a ‘sellout’ rewriting history

Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane’s breakfast meeting with founding member of the DA, Tony Leon, rubbed the ANC election head Fikile Mbalula the wrong way, as he has dubbed Maimane a ‘sellout’ who celebrates heroes who enforced apartheid.

Tuesday morning kicked off to a spirited bout between Mbalula and Maimane after Mbalula initiated a head to head with Maimane after implying Maimane was headed in the wrong direction and there was no turning back for him.

The DA leader tweeted on Tuesday that he had breakfast with his friend, Leon, and spent the morning reflecting on history, the memory of Leon’s father Ramon and their legacies.

https://twitter.com/MmusiMaimane/status/988681341163180034

Maimane said their contributions to the country were “immense” despite the treatment they received from the press and former police minister Sydney Mufamadi, who laid the blame for an investigation of Winnie Mandela at Leon’s feet.

The message, however, caught the eyes of the ANC election head, who said: “There’s no turning back for you Pastor Dumelang Bagaetsho. wathengisa [you’re selling out] strong. You’re in it deep; you are now celebrating apartheid and rewriting his history.”

https://twitter.com/MbalulaFikile/status/988691554796793857

Maimane retorted at the notion that he was selling out, and said Mbalula was legitimising his uncle, Atul, and “resorting to this”.

“… You justify corruption and misinformation so as to keep out people in perpetual struggle. I’m focused on tomorrow. A future where your stealing has left our people downtrodden and poor. How do you sleep at night, even in Dubai.”

Mbalula was quick to respond and pointed out Maimane was not responding to his assertions of “rewriting history and praising apartheid judges”, but “deflected with the usual soliloquy”.

“You don’t have to rewrite the past to look on the future. In fact that your heroes enforced apartheid is worrisome,” Mbalula said.

To legitimize your uncle Atul, you resort to this. You justify corruption and misinformation so as to keep our people in perpetual struggle. I’m focused on tomorrow. A future where your stealing has left our people downtrodden and poor. How do you sleep at night, even in Dubai.

— Mmusi Maimane (@MmusiMaimane) April 24, 2018

Mbalula was referring to Maimane as “pastor Dumelang” following a tweet on Monday by a user called Vaughan, who tweeted his birthday wishes to Maimane’s mother, but misinterpreted the meaning of dumelang, a Setswana word meaning hello. The user thought his mother Ethel’s name was “Dumelang”.

Dumelang Bagaetsho. Today ke birthday ya ma OuLady. She is an incredible person from whom I draw inspiration and courage. Happy Birthday Mama. Ka lerato. pic.twitter.com/JfAcjMjHdK

— Mmusi Maimane (@MmusiMaimane) April 23, 2018