Malema faces backlash over Gordhan, Zondo inquiry jibes

EFF leader Julius Malema has received significant backlash for calling Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan “a dog” and referring to the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into State Capture as a “Mickey Mouse show”.

Malema was condemned by the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, South African Council of Churches (SACC) and social media users.

Addressing supporters protesting outside the venue of the inquiry in Johannesburg this week, Malema said Gordhan was as corrupt as the ANC.

“Our attack on Pravin Gordhan is an attack on white monopoly capital because Pravin is a dog of white monopoly capital.

He also accused Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo of presiding over a commission that was stealing the money of the poor.

The SACC described Malema’s “war talk” as violent provocation.

“This kind of talk, accompanied by sabre-rattling and talk of war and possible bloodshed, on the eve of electioneering, is of deep concern.

“We find it unacceptable that an elected public official can call a person, whether government minister or not, a dog; especially given the connotation of such an expression in African culture,” said SACC general secretary Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana.

Mpumlwana said the commission was the necessary tool, which was recommended by former public protector, Thuli Madonsela, two years ago, to break the state-capture machinery.

“We do not understand how it now becomes a Mickey Mouse show and a waste of money.

“We urge all South Africans to support the Zondo Commission and not have witnesses attacked and intimidated, as that will have the effect of burying the serious wrongdoings that might have been revealed,” he said.

He commended Malema and the EFF for “standing against corruption”.

“We cannot believe that he and his party no longer want to see corrupt practices exposed in a judicial inquiry such as the Zondo Commission.”

Kathrada Foundation executive director Neeshan Balton said Malema’s statements were inflammatory and reckless. “What is the ‘loss of life’ that Malema is claiming may occur in his ‘fight’ with Gordhan – whose life may be lost, how and why? If Malema has information that points to the possibility of ‘casualties’ in this purported ‘fight’, should he not be taking the matter to the relevant authorities to avert such a scenario?” Balton asked.

“We should also be asking why Malema cast doubt on the commission’s integrity. If the EFF has not yet brought its evidence before a commission of this nature, but prefers agitating violence on the streets, we need to question what its real motives are.”

The EFF had not responded to questions at the time of publication.