South Africa’s ruling African National Congress has asked the police to investigate whether to charge ultra-left Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema with treason after he threatened to oust President Jacob Zuma’s government through the barrel of a gun.
The ANC Youth League, which Malema led before being expelled from the party three years ago, has asked the national defense force to set soldier on the EFF after Malema’s threat.
ends intro
ANC spokesman Zizi Kodwa says they’ve made a formal accusation against Julius Malema at a police station in Johannesburg.
Kodwa alleges Malema’s utterances and conduct are treasonable.
HE says the ANC’s protecting and defending South Africa hard-earned democracy.
For anyone to say they are prepared to remove a democratically elected government through undemocratic means such as through the barrel of a gun is a serious threat.
Both the EFF and the largest opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, are trying to wrest control of key cities such as Pretoria, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth from the ANC in municipal elections scheduled for August 3.
Malema says he’s happy to answer Kodwa’s challenge in court.
He says the EFF’s running out of patience and is considering using force against the government because of its alleged use of violence against protesters.
He says the ANC’s rigged election in the most populous province of Gauteng before and the EFF won’t allow them to get away with it again.