He drove Mbeki's ouster, he has threatened Zuma with a similar fate, now ANC tells Malema to shut up

Firebrand Julius Malema was very vociferous in the runup to the Polokwane conference when Zuma was elected president of the ANC. He subsequently was the driving force in the ouster of Thabo Mbeki. He has even threatened to have Zuma removed should he not toe the line Cosatu, the SACP and the ANC Youth League are laying down. The ANC has now belatedy told Malema to shut up.

Watch your mouth, ANC tells Malema
Party bosses put leash on youth leader

THE ANC has finally told Julius Malema, the president of its youth wing, to tone down his rhetoric.

Malema, who shot to public prominence by making controversial statements, was told to watch his mouth at a meeting of the ruling party’s national executive committee at the weekend.

The party leadership is said to be concerned that Malema’s reckless talk might cost the ANC votes in next year’s general election. Yesterday, Malema was among the ANC leaders who attended a press conference at which party president Jacob Zuma spoke.

But it was evident that the committee had put a leash on Malema — he was not given an opportunity to speak.

During the press briefing, ANC treasurer-general Mathews Phosa was seen restraining the firebrand youth leader from responding to a question put to Zuma.

Party officials later told The Times that the national executive committee had reined in Malema, who was not happy with the decision. Zuma was expected to meet Malema late yesterday to discuss the matter.

When The Times asked Malema if he had been gagged, he refused to comment, saying he would brief the media today.

“Come to the press conference and you can ask that question,” he said.

Since taking office at the Youth League’s rowdy conference in April, Malema has been Zuma’s most vocal backer.

He also led the charge for President Thabo Mbeki’s removal from office.

Malema’s controversial statement that the league was prepared to “take up arms” and “kill for Zuma” caused so much outrage that he was hauled before the Human Rights Commission and asked to apologise for his inflammatory remarks.

He took his fight to the Constitutional Court, accusing judges of “taking decisions in beer halls”.

When ANC deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe came out in defence of the independence of the judiciary, the Youth League responded by publicly attacking him. Though Malema and Motlanthe later agreed not to attack each other publicly, the young firebrand was at it again during the league’s 64th anniversary celebrations earlier this month.

Malema said then: “We respect the judiciary, but that doesn’t mean we can’t criticise drunk judges.

“When they decide to say something at their public lectures, we will respond. And even if [Motlanthe] intervenes, we would have had our say.”

Earlier this month, shortly before Zuma’s last court appearance in Pietermaritzburg, Malema warned that the league would not let Zuma go to jail without a fight.

“Any force that tries to block our way, we will eliminate. We are on a mission here. We will crush you. It doesn’t matter who you are … even if you are in the ANC,” Malema said.