Photo: South Africa Tourism / Flickr
Photo: South Africa Tourism / Flickr
Derek Hanekom has been forced to address accusations that he supplied the EFF with insider information back in 2017 after Julius Malema publicly claimed that he was plotting something with the red berets during the Zuma era.
The official in the Presidency was dragged by the EFF leader, who lifted the lid on a grubby pact the pair had allegedly made back in 2017. It is said by Malema that Hanekom “shared a list of names to the opposition party”, detailing who amongst his colleagues would be voting against Jacob Zuma in the final motion of no confidence held against him.
But Malema went one better and accused Derek Hanekom of plotting to form a new party if it succumbed further to the Zuma faction. Juju told an audience on Tuesday that the ANC figure would have “broken away” from the 109-year-old institution, had Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma been nominated as their new leader instead of Cyril Ramaphosa.
Derek Hanekom responds to “spying” claims
This has been comprehensively dismissed by Hanekom, though. He sent a text message to SABC on Wednesday to clarify the situation. Although it seemed like there was some truth to Malema’s statement, the ANC member believes that the political firebrand has embellished parts of the story.
“It’s no secret that there were a number of discussion held between various organisations in the midst of a mounting campaign to get former President Zuma removed from office. Eventually, the ANC’s National Executive Committee forced him to resign.”
“I had coffee with [EFF Secretary General] Godrich Gardee twice at the Eastgate Mugg and Bean, maybe even three times. But I did not give him a list of names, nor did I say that Pravin [Gordhan] and I planned to form a new party”
Derek Hanekom
Who is Derek Hanekom?
The 66-year-old also took to Twitter on Wednesday, to seemingly address the concerns by those who claimed who was acting “as a mole” for the EFF. He simply reminded South Africans to focus on other, more pressing matters:
Let's not get distracted. The full story of state capture must come out and corruption must be rooted out.
— Derek Hanekom (@Derek_Hanekom) July 24, 2019
He has served in three ANC cabinets during his political career, including a stint in Nelson Mandela’s government:
- Official in the Presidency: 2019-
- Minister of Tourism: 2016 – 2017.
- Minister of Science and Technology: 2012 – 2014.
- Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs: 1996 – 1999.
