Enjoy the moment, Julius Malema…
THE French phrase for delusions of grandeur, folie de grandeur, falls so nicely on the tongue, and Julius Malema and his red berets seems to be on a roll of late.
The friendly banter between Malema and Cyril Ramaphosa at the commencement of State of the Nation Address; the misplaced belief that it was the EFF and its vote of no confidence proposal that was the catalyst in the removal of Jacob Zuma, the adoption of the EFF proposal to look at amending the property clause of the constitution, and now notice given to Nelson Mandela Bay mayor, Athol Trollip,that his erstwhile coalition partner, the EFF, is proposing a vote of no confidence in him, all these suggests that the EFF is the big player on the political playground.
But Malema and his exploits is a symptom of a Polokwane 2007 hangover, where he was the kingmaker of Zuma’s coronation.
It wasn’t long before the kingmaker became the expelled delinquent, and formed the now 6% red berets. We have a classic case of the tail wagging the dog, the 6% EFF seemingly manipulating the 62% ANC, seeking to ingratiate itself to the ruling party now that Zuma has departed.
But as Shakespeare warned, “beware the ides of March”, for the Van Riebeeck day vote of no confidence, may just turn out to be an April fool’s joke.
As the 1993 negotiations showed, and as was evidenced by the measured way Ramaphosa handled Zuma’s exit, our new president is no fool. So enjoy the moment, Mr Malema. Your adversary now is not the compromised Zuma, but a consummate strategist who knows how to win.
GEORGE HECTOR Heathfield