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Mbalula tells DA: The Zuma years were good for you
The ANC head of elections was mocking the DA's campaign billboard efforts.
ANC head of elections Fikile Mbalula, centre. Picture: Siphephile Sibanyoni/ African News agency/ ANA
In a tweet on Thursday, the former supporter of then president Jacob Zuma, as well as of Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma’s bid to become ANC president, Fikile Mbalula, appeared to endorse the view that Zuma had helped the opposition DA to grow during his years in office.
In a reply to the DA’s Johannesburg mayor, Herman Mashaba, debating the DA’s billboard this week claiming the “ANC is killing us”, Mbalula wrote on Thursday afternoon: “U guys [the DA] u dont have a campaign u never had even bfo, Zuma years helped u a lot [sic all]”.
https://twitter.com/MbalulaFikile/status/1085870992117940224
The now-vandalised DA billboard listed the late alleged victims of poor ANC governance.
Many called the billboard a sensationalist publicity stunt, although the DA maintained its message was accurate and not “slander”, as suggested by the ruling party.
Although Mbalula deleted many tweets yesterday, he did not delete his reply to Mashaba, despite the reaction it has received.
Many political analysts have often repeated the view that Zuma’s time in office was galvanising for the opposition, which was able to seize on numerous personal and corruption scandals surrounding Zuma to criticise the ANC and attract voter support.
In the 2016 elections, under Zuma, the ANC dropped to just under 54% of the national vote, which was catastrophic in particularly three major metros, which it lost control of for the first time.
Since then the DA and EFF have both been criticised for apparently floundering in the wake of renewed optimism in the ANC since Cyril Ramaphosa took over from Zuma. A recent Ipsos poll suggested the ANC may go back to above 60% in this year’s elections.
The DA has also suffered bad press in other respects, including its battle with former Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille and the ongoing furore around Western Cape premier Helen Zille’s colonialism tweets.
Nevertheless, Mbalula’s tweets surprised many, as he was in effect agreeing with the long-running view that Zuma’s leadership had been helpful to the opposition and detrimental to the ANC – something no ANC senior leader has yet publicly stated.
In 2016, Business Day editor-in-chief Peter Bruce wrote: Jacob Zuma is a God-given gift to the DA and EFF. They should cherish it while it lasts. Because as soon as Zuma goes, so too will the coterie of acolytes he has surrounded himself with. The biggest beneficiary of his departure will be, of course, SA, but also the ANC. Sadly, the ANC hasn’t figured that out yet.”
@MbalulaFikile i don't understand this statement can you explain the "Zuma years helped u a lot" i don't want to make my own conclusions which might be incorrect @PresJGZuma @MYANC#Zuma pic.twitter.com/Ug00FnGJp8
— MJ (@JosephM_____) January 18, 2019
Many found the admission from the ANC’s head of elections astonishing. Some accused him of brazenly switching sides (to the so-called Ramaphosa camp) when the tide turned.
Mbalula was removed from Cabinet in Ramaphosa’s first reshuffle after taking office last year.
— Hasani (@hasansas1981) January 17, 2019
— Siya Later (@realsiyakashe) January 17, 2019
@PresJGZuma i am reporting Mbalula he is actually saying you were the worst President.
— Izo (@Izo51168298) January 17, 2019
"Zuma years helped you a lot" wow Fikile pic.twitter.com/HnV37K8tJi
— MaNdawonde wase Khezetheni💃💪🕯🇿🏴☠️😘🌷☠ (@MaSbhene_27462) January 17, 2019
You were part of those years and you kept him there
— Jonathan Rowe (@Jonatha05697761) January 17, 2019
@MbalulaFikile what did Zuma years do Fikile? May please say it slowly and clearly
— Hitsolicious (@hitsolicious) January 17, 2019
Very naive remark @MbalulaFikile pic.twitter.com/Q0pm8aVPoS
— MosothoFela (@MosothoFela) January 17, 2019
Own goal strue. How did Zuma years help them mbaks? pic.twitter.com/vH8weeGYbt
— Eddie 💎 (@cale01b3) January 17, 2019
Fikile, you exposing yourself! Sometimes it’s okay to remain silent. I’m not a fan of @PresJGZuma but I think you being unfair on him. You protected him when the grass was green at the time but you somersault now that he’s out. Typical of stooges of politics of the stomach!!!
— Kabelo Mabeleng (@KabeloMabeleng) January 17, 2019
(Compiled by Charles Cilliers)
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