WATCH | ‘I’ve never asked for any position of deputy president from Ramaphosa’ – Malema

Malema

Cape Town — Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader, Julius Malema, has denied the reports that he went behind Floyd Shivambu’s back and asked President Cyril Ramaphosa for a position in the Government of National Unity (GNU).

Long-time EFF stalwart, Floyd Shivambu, announced his resignation from the party last week and jumped ship to the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, which had offered him a top position.

Malema responded to claims that his relationship with Shivambu had met its end as there was a lack of trust between the two during the GNU negotiations.

It was reported that Shivambu felt betrayed by Malema who had bypassed him and approached Ramaphosa to be deputy president while the party was negotiating with the ANC, The Citizen reported.

According to the report, a source revealed that Shivambu felt undermined and disrespected by Malema, who was undercutting him by going directly to the ANC president. Shivambu allegedly asked Malema why he was running parallel negotiations with the ANC when he was the head of negotiations.

Malema, however, has dismissed the claims that he was part of the GNU negotiations and said he never went behind Shivambu’s back.

“I was in Polokwane throughout the GNU discussions. The SG called me when the negotiations collapsed. He asked me to return to apply my skills and find a way to reach out to these people because I had worked with them before,” he said.

Malema said he was the first to publicly declare that the EFF should join the GNU, but added that he would not join a GNU that included the DA and the FF Plus.

Malema said he never spoke to Ramaphosa over the deputy president position.

Reports had suggested that the EFF leaders were offered prominent positions in the GNU, with Shivambu offered the Finance Minister position. However, Malema said there were no promises or negotiations about positions.

“Today they say to you they were offered positions in the negotiations and when they came to tell me I denied those positions and I went behind their backs to speak to Cyril for me to become the deputy president. Maybe in their imagination, they imagine positions, there were never any positions offered in the negotiations,” Malema said.

“I want to tell you here and now, I have never asked for any position of deputy president from Ramaphosa and I will never do that because I don’t have anything to do with what Ramaphosa has to do,” Malema added.

Malema also gave a message to any party members who wished to follow Shivambu and leave the party.

The news of Shivambu’s exit has sparked debate over who could follow suit, with Mbuyiseni Ndlozi and advocate Dali Mpofu tipped to be on their way out.

Malema said he had observed that party leaders who were ordinarily very vocal on social media had been silent on Shivambu’s exit.

“We must not bother ourselves about what our enemies are saying, but we must ask ourselves, why are those who say they are comrades silent? Why are those who are known and popular to be the most vocal on social media silent? Where are their voices when your movement is under attack? Where are those loud voices? Why do they not use their platforms to speak in defence of the EFF if they’re truly loyal to that movement?” Malema said.

Malema said that everyone needed to declare their confidence in the EFF, adding that those who chose to be silent during the attack were “silent enemies of our organisation”.

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Compiled by Matthew Petersen

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