Cape Town – EFF leader Julius Malema responded to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent admonishments, asserting that he has not been disrespectful.
Malema defended his critical stance, saying it is his job to hold the president accountable and denying any insulting remarks about Ramaphosa’s father.
His comments during the National Assembly debate on the Presidency’s budget on Tuesday came after Ramaphosa on Monday criticised him for focusing too much on personal attacks rather than substantive issues.
Ramaphosa urged Malema to “play the ball, not the man”, emphasising the importance of respectful discourse.
[WATCH] “It is important that as we debate, we should play the ball and not the man. You spent a considerable amount of time playing me, the man,” President Cyril Ramaphosa questions EFF leader Julius Malema’s debating style in Parliament. pic.twitter.com/6p2cdiIQkE
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) July 22, 2024
“It is important that as we debate, we should play the ball and not the man. You spent a considerable amount of time playing me, the man,” the president said.
He challenged Malema to engage in constructive dialogue on matters like the formation of the National Union of Mineworkers, suggesting Malema educate himself by speaking with key historical figures involved.
“You and I need to sit down and talk about politics, especially about apartheid-era politics, which I think confuses you… I will be doing this so that whenever you stand up and talk, it will be about something that will give us a way forward,” the president said.
But Malema said that Parliament is a place for robust debate and not for the sensitive.
[WATCH] EFF leader @Julius_S_Malema responds to President Cyril Ramaphosa that “he (Malema) played the man, and not the ball” during debates in Parliament. Malema says a person’s character is key to developments otherwise “why do we have Mandela Day?” pic.twitter.com/ss8736Bv9c
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) July 23, 2024
He also refuted Ramaphosa’s claim that he is ill-informed about the National Mineworkers’ Union, saying that he has consistently shown up and never sold out.
Malema affirmed his commitment to being rigorous in his engagements with the president.
Malema finally responds to Cyril Ramaphosa after the president accused the CIC that Malema has a habit of playing the ball, not the man…#podcastandchill tim sukazi. Big zulu. Cindy
pic.twitter.com/uaJJfba7Fy— Meshack Mathe Bevhula (@MeshackBevhula) July 23, 2024
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
