ANC Youth League defends Zuma

THE ANC Youth League has come out in defence of President Jacob Zuma and his cabinet minister Des van Rooyen seeking an interdict against former public protector Thuli Madonsela over the release of the state capture report yesterday.

But fiery, outspoken former ANC MP Vytjie Mentor also came out guns blazing, accusing Zuma of lying and trying to frustrate the country with his court action.

Mentor, who chaired the portfolio committee on public enterprises in Parliament for five years, said if Zuma was innocent he would not be running to the courts to try to prevent the public protector from releasing the report.

She said Zuma knew exactly what he was doing, and was stonewalling the process.

ANCYL spokesman Mlondi Mkhize accused the EFF and the DA of collaborating because they wanted to force Zuma out of office.

He said the two parties had been working together in Parliament since 2014, and were responsible for the chaos in the national legislature.

“They collaborated even during the local government elections, where they formed coalition governments in the metros,” said Mkhize. “We were not surprised when they went to court, it was expected of them.”

The DA wanted to discredit Zuma at all costs, he charged.

The ANCYL said Zuma has rights and these must be respected.

But Mentor said if Zuma had nothing to hide he would have responded to Madonsela’s questions she sent to him in March this year.

Mentor is one of those who gave evidence against Zuma.

EFF leader Julius Malema also confirmed he made submissions to the public protector on state capture.