Mbete apologises for remarks
SPEAKER of the National Assembly Baleka Mbete (pictured) has apologised to Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema for calling him a “cockroach”. In a statement on an ANC letterhead yesterday Ms Mbete said she had reflected on her remarks and all offending statements she had made — including calling the EFF “thugs” — and concluded that they were inappropriate.
NATIONAL Assembly speaker Baleka Mbete has apologised to Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema for calling him a “cockroach”.
The public apology yesterday came almost five days after Ms Mbete, speaking in her capacity as national chairwoman of the African National Congress (ANC), launched a broadside against the EFF and Mr Malema during a speech at a provincial conference of the ANC in the North West.
She told ANC delegates to prepare themselves to “fight the EFF in provincial legislatures and municipalities”, according to a Mail & Guardian report.
However, in a statement on an ANC letterhead yesterday, Ms Mbete said she had reflected on her remarks and all offending statements she had made — including calling the EFF “thugs” — and concluded that they were inappropriate. “The manner in which they came across was unfortunate and regrettable,” she said.
“I withdraw my remarks unreservedly. I apologise unconditionally to South Africans, to Parliament and Honourable Julius Malema for any hurt or harm I may have caused,” said Ms Mbete.
Her credibility came under scrutiny following her “mishandling” of the state of the nation address last Thursday, with the Democratic Alliance (DA) pushing to have her brought before the parliamentary powers and privileges committee.
In a move described as heavyhanded, Ms Mbete called police into the chamber on Thursday to remove EFF MPs who had been demanding that Mr Zuma say when he would refund the state for some of the controversial R246m upgrades at his private home in Nkandla in KwaZulu-Natal.
She was this week expected to preside over the state of the nation address debate. However, the duties were left to National Council of Provinces chairwoman Thandi Modise and other officials.
On Monday, ANC spokesman Zizi Kodwa said in a radio interview that Ms Mbete had used the word cockroach “figuratively”.
He said that in 2010, when Mr Malema was president of the ANC Youth League, he had called DA leader and Western Cape Premier Helen Zille a cockroach.
Yesterday, Mr Kodwa said that Ms Mbete’s withdrawal of her remarks was “an indication that she has accepted public concerns for her remark”.
Earlier yesterday, the South African Human Rights Commission reportedly said it had received a complaint from a member of the public regarding alleged utterances by Ms Mbete.
Ms Zille said yesterday on Twitter that Mr Malema could follow Ms Mbete’s example and apologise to her. Seven minutes later Mr Malema replied to Ms Zille, saying: “I’m very sorry Madam.”
The manner in which they came across was unfortunate and regrettable