526 11.07.2013 Commander in chief of Economic Freedom Fighter, Julius Malema speaking at the press conference were he announced the new national and provincial party's committees, held at Constitutional Hill, Johannesburg on 11, Thursday, 11 July 2013. Picture: Motshwari Mofokeng 526 11.07.2013 Commander in chief of Economic Freedom Fighter, Julius Malema speaking at the press conference were he announced the new national and provincial party's committees, held at Constitutional Hill, Johannesburg on 11, Thursday, 11 July 2013. Picture: Motshwari Mofokeng
Johannesburg - The Congress of South African Students (Cosas) has denounced its former president Julius Malema and apologised to South Africans for producing a “rebel” like him.
Malema shot to fame after leading a group of Cosas members who vandalised property and robbed street hawkers during a 2001 march in the CBD.
But on Wednesday Cosas’s Greater Joburg regional secretary, Charles Mokonyama, joined a chorus of ANC-aligned organisations that took a swipe at Malema and his newly formed party, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
This came as political wrangles intensified ahead of next year’s national elections.
Mokonyama labelled the EFF “red ants” because of the party’s red berets similar in colour to the notorious Red Ants, who are called to evict illegal occupants of buildings.
“We apologise to the nation for having produced a rebel like Julius Malema, (whose) current tendencies can be traced back to Cosas. He nearly destroyed our beloved movement,” Mokonyama stated.
He claimed Malema had a history of abusing power.
Malema’s allies and other EFF officials, including businessman Kenny Kunene and former ANCYL spokesman Floyd Shivambu, were also criticised.
Attempts to get comments from EFF and Malema drew a blank.
The Star
