Julius Malema EFF cabinet reshuffle ramaphosa

Photo: EFF / Twitter

Malema forced to withdraw brutal ‘Marikana insult’ aimed at Ramaphosa

Julius Malema has a sharp set of claws: The EFF leader was made to retract the Marikana-based taunt he made towards Cyril Ramaphosa this afternoon.

Julius Malema EFF cabinet reshuffle ramaphosa

Photo: EFF / Twitter

What is it with Julius Malema and causing a scene in Parliament? His attendance at the Pan African gathering this week has already made continental headlines – but Juju has still found time to ruffle a few feathers back home. Earlier on Wednesday, he hit President Ramaphosa right where it hurts – by dragging up the demons of Marikana.

Why Marikana insults are a sore spot for Cyril Ramaphosa

The infamous mining massacre remains one of the darkest days in South Africa’s recent history. Ramaphosa, a former Lonmin director, gave police the green light to take ‘concomitant action’ against a group of protesters – but clashes with workers and law enforcement officials saw dozens of workers gunned down by the authorities.

It’s something Juju has never let Cyril live down, and while talking about unemployment figures in the National Assembly today, the EFF leader took an unsubtle swipe below the belt:

“You are responsible for all of this unemployment crisis. But knowing you , having left our people and families in Marikana fatherless, you would not be ashamed of these statistics. You took breadwinners in Marikana, and now you have taken jobs from breadwinners who are feeding a lot of our people.” | Julius Malema

Rarely repentant Malema retracts murder jibe

House Speaker Tsenoli soon dialled the temperature back down, demanding that Malema withdrew his remarks before allowing him to continue. After a small back and forth, the 40-year-old fell in line, and retracted his targeted taunt. The self-appointed CIC then went for a different line of attack, questioning Ramaphosa’s commitment to land expropriation:

“We were asking ourselves this morning whether we should participate in this debate or not because the person who was coming to present the budget vote lacks inspiration, speaks like a tired fellow who doesn’t believe in anything he says. Everything you have promised us – jobs, land expropriation, opportunities for youth – has not happened.”

When you took over you said ‘guided by the resolution of the 54th National conference of the governing party, this approach will include the expropriation of land without compensation…’ Your MPs in the committees are zig-zagging and cannot make explicit submissions that speak to what you said when you took over. You’re bluffing.”