ANC MP’s apology to Malemas
EFF leader, wife mum on pursuing legal route amid abuse allegations
IT IS still unclear whether EFF leader Julius Malema and his wife Mantoa Malema will accept ANC MP Boy Mamabolo’s early morning apology for accusing the firebrand politician of abusing her and drop their defamation lawsuit.
“I would like to take this opportunity to apologise and retract the insensitive statements that I have made in Parliament and outside regarding gender-based violence which was allegedly happening in your household,” he said.
However, the ANC MP later deleted the apology, which he posted on his social media platforms.
According to Mamabolo, he posed the question to Malema due to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s call during the Parliament’s special joint sitting last year in which he called upon all South Africans to expose any form of gender-based violence.
Mamabolo also blamed a jealous group called “Friends of Mantoa” that started sending him messages from November last year.
“I was, therefore, actually wrong to raise the matter in public without consulting with you as my former family friends to verify these false allegations from jealous ‘Friends of Mantoa’,” he said.
Both Mamabolo and EFF spokesperson Vuyani Pambo did not respond to Independent Media’s questions on whether Malema and his wife’s defamation lawsuit would proceed following Mamabolo’s public apology, which they demanded earlier this week.
Neither Malema nor his wife had indicated anything on the threats to litigate in the statements where they accepted Ramaphosa’s apology.
Malema’s wife accepted Ramaphosa’s apology on her husband and children’s behalf, promising to “put the matter aside and dismiss it as a thing of the past”.
“Having said this, Mr President, it is important to place on record that in a country where women continue to wear black outfits, either mourning the death of their girl children or in solidarity with women who are victims of gender-based violence, Parliament should never be used to humiliate women, particularly using false and malicious accusations.
“It should never be a platform where women are a weapon in an attempt to neutralise political opponents in a general masculine, toxic exchange,” she said, adding that it would be an insult to women.
In his apology, Mamabolo said gender-based violence “is not a matter to be used to settle political scores”.
“The fight against femicide and GBV is a fight I recommit myself to and even after these unfortunate events I will continue to contribute in challenging it and fighting it. My actions impugned your reputation.”
The MP said he had sent a copy of the statement to Speaker of the National Assembly Thandi Modise, the chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, the ANC Whippery and the president “as I extended my apology to them, and further apologise to my fellow members in both houses and the country in large”.
“I humbly request you to accept my sincere apology, I wish you a Happy Malema Family (as I’ve always did) jealous must never brake (sic) you, Stay strong my Comrades,” he said.
The dramatic turn of events followed Ramaphosa’s apology to Malema on Thursday after the EFF leader accused the president of abusing his late second wife Nomazizi Mtshotshisa.
Malema’s wife said she was personally committed to the fight against the abuse of women and would never let any man abuse her or ever look away when other women were abused.
“I’m nurturing three boys of my own, and they will grow up to become gentlemen. I cannot make them gentle and responsible men by concealing violence in my own home and private space, doing so will be teaching them that violence can be tolerated.”
She expressed her hope that the unfortunate event would help gender-based violence to finally be met with greater and more meaningful urgency.