Andile Mngxitama

Andile Mngxitama expresses his views during a discussion about the ‘state capture’ on March 23, 2016 in Pretoria, South Africa. This discussion follows the widespread allegations that the Guptas had been interfering with the state when it comes to the hiring and firing of ministers. (Photo by Gallo Images / Beeld / Deaan Vivier)

Wednesday’s #OppositionMarch a ‘coup’, BFLF’s Andile Mngxitama

The former EFF member said the march planned for April 12 is part of an opposition plot to overthrow the South African government.

Andile Mngxitama

Andile Mngxitama expresses his views during a discussion about the ‘state capture’ on March 23, 2016 in Pretoria, South Africa. This discussion follows the widespread allegations that the Guptas had been interfering with the state when it comes to the hiring and firing of ministers. (Photo by Gallo Images / Beeld / Deaan Vivier)

Perhaps AndileMngxitama should take a few moments to… ‘read the room’ before making sweeping statements about public sentiment in South Africa right now. Anyway, the Black First Land First leader was invited to speak on a panel – invite Mngxitama and make the press, simple formula – at TUT on Tuesday and true to form all he really did was come to the defence of Jacob Zuma and bash “white monopoly capital.”

Watch: #OppositionMarch protesters won’t ‘play games’ with Zuma supporters, Malema warns

The “is the post-apartheid state unravelling?” discussion gave Mngxitama another opportunity to throw his support behind Jacob Zuma and the Gupta family and lash out against white people.

 “The march tomorrow is organised by white monopoly capital. It is a coup because President Zuma hasn’t done anything‚” he said, adding that the EFF is part of an attempted coup.

“Those people talking about Save SA and corruption – they are corrupt themselves.”

Mngxitama told those willing to listen that white people can’t cast aspersions on the Guptas as whites lack the “moral authority” to do so.

 “Have white people in this country apologised for apartheid‚ colonialism‚ genocide of black people? No‚” Mngxitama said before accusing fellow panellist Zwelinzima Vavi of being a “white monopoly capital” apologist.

Vavi, on the other hand, took a pretty strong stance against Jacob Zuma, comparing his tactics to those used by Zimbabwean president Batty Bob Mugabe in his attempts at clinging on to power.

“When his back was against the wall in Zimbabwe‚ he suddenly remembered ‘I’ve done nothing about the land.’ He remembers‚ just like President Zuma is remembering in 2017,” Vavi said.