ANC Youth League President Julius Malema has broken his silence and accused Northern Cape Premier Dipuo Peters - in her presence - of being bought and bribed by business people.
"Dipuo, if you are bought and bribed by businesses, we will never be manipulated," Malema said on Thursday while addressing about 2 000 election volunteers waiting to hear ANC President Jacob Zuma speak.
Peters was sitting not far from Malema on the podium when he taunted: "If the premier wants to go, you are welcome, comrade premier, to also leave the African National Congress."
Malema also referred to the Northern Cape "MEC of education (Archie Lucas) or whatever", saying: "You must go."
Malema, recently reined in by the ANC leadership over his statements, did not mince his words when he referred to the Congress of the People, the breakaway party planning to dent the ANC's majority at the polls.
"They are a group of chancers who have failed in the ANC. Just because they have not been elected as leaders, they are (disappointed).
"Let me tell them, they are also a disappointment to their wives and children. Those councillors who have resigned are inviting poverty into their homes. Who is going to pay your salaries?
"Remember as well, it doesn't mean that if you were a councillor you were the best. The community might not have wanted you, but just because you carried the flag of the ANC, you were in that position," Malema said.
He added that anyone could resign from the party, regardless of their position. "Whether you are a premier, an MEC or a mayor, nobody is stopping you from leaving. You might make newspaper headlines today with your resignation, but tomorrow you're forgotten when (Barack) Obama and Zuma once again dominate the headlines."
He also demanded to know what the dissidents would do when they lost the elections.
"They're not happy now, so they leave. When they lose the election, will they then leave the country?"
Malema said the ANC had no regrets having Zuma as the face of its election campaign.
"We had no problem making you the president of the ANC, and we will have absolutely no problem in marching with you to the Union Buildings when you take your rightful place as president of the country," said Malema.
He added that nobody would be able to touch Zuma with the Youth League around.
"We are the first line of defence, and we will ensure that nobody touches you," he said.
Malema was also confident that Zuma would be able to provide more jobs for the youth.
"And we are not talking about (menial) jobs. We're talking real jobs," he boasted.
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