‘No-one can control us’: Malema clashes with Hill-Lewis during leadership debate - TimesLIVE

EFF leader Julius Malema has responded to allegations that they are a “chaotic and corrupt” coalition partner.

Speaking at Arena Holdings’ leadership debate on Thursday, Malema argued that none of his party’s members or leaders has ever been convicted of or charged with corruption.

He acknowledged that political parties use this narrative to keep them out of government.

“We are amenable to any form of governance as long as it is aimed at improving the lives of our people. Everywhere we have been and participated in government, not a single individual of the EFF has ever been accused of corruption because of the position they hold.”

The EFF leader urged their detractors to provide evidence for these allegations, insisting they cannot prove these claims where they have governed.

“You can go to Ekurhuleni, you can go to Tshwane, you can go to Gauteng government; no one in the EFF since its formation is standing in court because of corruption. Not a former leader, not a former member, no one. Yet you want to create an impression that this is the most corrupt organisation and you can’t work with it. Simply, you can’t control us.”

Malema charged that their independence and inability to be controlled make them a problematic coalition partner.

“The problem with the whiteness that says it can’t work with us, it’s because they can’t control us. We are the only political party that has got no white-hand control, and that is what we are being hated for.

“There is no white individual who can claim to have control over the EFF, and that’s why they say they can’t work with the EFF. They’ll have no one to talk to, unlike when they are negotiating coalitions.”

Malema relayed a time during negotiations when he claimed that during talks with the ANC, its leaders were confident of a coalition arrangement with the DA, arguing that a partnership between the DA and the ANC was ideal for the blue party’s funders.

“You can’t say that about the EFF; you have to talk to the party leadership. There is no one you can talk to outside to influence us; that is why we are not wanted.”

DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis took a swipe at the EFF, accusing the party of causing instability in coalitions. He added that it was the responsibility of the DA to keep parties like the red berets out of government.

Malema hit back at Hill-Lewis, asking what chaotic governance he meant.

“You are saying we must revert to fact, so let’s be factual. Where has this happened? Because in Tshwane, our MMC of environment has been responsible for keeping the city clean; our health MMC has been keeping the clinics of the city open, so what are you basing your argument on?

“You can go to Ekurhuleni and make the same judgment, and tell us where and what did we do that was chaotic, even in Johannesburg? Here, our health MMC actually opened a 24/7 clinic, the first of its kind under the EFF’s leadership, and even our public safety MMC, not a single one of them has ever been accused of any wrongdoing.

“Herman Mashaba was a mayor who said he was in government with the EFF and we have never come to him to ask for a tender, so which chaos are you talking about? Except that you are hiding racism behind the concept of chaos,” said Malema.

Hill-Lewis referred to the high crime rates in communities, criticising Malema’s conviction for firing a firearm in public as a contributor to his chaotic character.

The DA leader described this as “deeply irresponsible behaviour for any leader in our society.”

He also referred to the VBS scandal as aiding the corruption, accusing Malema of being “deeply involved in the theft of hundreds of millions [of rand] from elderly women in Limpopo.”

“The leaders of his [Malema] party live in fantastic wealth, way beyond their means, which they cannot explain with their incomes. They expect South Africans to believe that all of this is above board; it is not above board. South Africans are sick of state capture and looting that is taking place on a grand scale which the EFF has facilitated, participated in and led wherever they have had the chance to do.”

Malema dismissed the DA leader’s comments as “pathetic”.

“You say things you can’t back, and that’s how subtle racism works. It makes unfounded allegations because it can’t say I hate you for being black. It hides behind unfounded allegations.

“There was no EFF that was found in VBS; I was cleared by parliament on issues of VBS. You have no answer where the EFF was found to be chaotic. You have no answer, and you must admit, you have nothing against the EFF except that you can’t control it. That’s the problem you have.”