Malema vows to back Ramaphosa removal, warns of Steenhuisen presidency
Julius Malema says John Steenhuisen could become South Africa’s first white president since the end of apartheid if Cyril Ramaphosa is ousted.
EFF leader Julius Malema has made it clear that his party will reject the MK Party’s motion of no confidence in Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana.
Instead, the EFF plans to back a motion targeting President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The MK Party filed the motion in response to the VAT standoff, after the National Treasury abandoned its proposed 0.5% VAT increase set for 1 May.
EFF rejects MK’s motion against Godongwana
Last Friday, the Jacob Zuma-led MK Party submitted a motion against Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana to the Speaker of the National Assembly, emphasising its intent to hold leaders accountable for decisions affecting millions.
The party criticised Godongwana for dismissing recommendations to implement wealth taxes, increase levies on luxury goods, and adopt more responsible fiscal measures.
“Instead, the minister chose the most regressive and anti-poor option of increasing VAT, a measure that disproportionately punishes the working class, the unemployed and the poor majority,” MK Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela said.
Although the EFF also called for Godongwana’s resignation over the VAT impasse, during a media briefing on Monday, 28 February, Malema said the MK Party’s motion is ineffective and that if the Zuma-led party meant business there should be a motion of no confidence in President Cyril Ramaphosa whom he said is responsible for many of the challenges the country is facing.
Malema said they would support any motion against Ramaphosa.
“He’s the man responsible for every mess I’m experiencing today. However, we’re not there yet as the EFF where we think we can put a motion of no confidence because we’re still working the ground. We don’t want to do some poorly canvassed work in Parliament he said.
SA TO HAVE WHITE PRESIDENT?
In the same light of motions, Malema also warned that at some point in the near future, there will be a no-confidence motion against Ramaphosa and that the DA’s John Steenhuisen could be the next head of state.
“This country will have a white president, this country will have Steenhuisen as a president if the ANC is going to behave the way it is behaving.
“A motion of no confidence will come and we will vote with the DA, mobilise all those we can mobilise and vote together with the DA against the president, and then when it’s time to elect a president we abstain and the ANC loses,” he said.