Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has weighed in on former President and leader of uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party Jacob Zuma’s recent visit to Morocco, calling him a “sellout.”

“On (the issue of) Morocco, that was a complete sellout position,” he said on the sidelines of his court appearance at East London Magistrate’s Court, in Eastern Cape. 

Malema, along with his former bodyguard, Adriaan Snyman, are accused of discharging a firearm in public during the EFF’s fifth birthday celebrations in July 2018.

The closing arguments from both the State and the defence are expected to be heard.

The red berets leader and Snyman have previously pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Malema’s criticism comes after Zuma visited Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita in Rabat

“Now there’s a manoeuvre, they are no longer emphasising their party position on Morocco,” Malema said.

“They are saying, a former head of state can visit any country and have interactions with those people. No one is questioning that, we are questioning his position and that of his party in relation to Morocco.” 

Malema reaffirmed the EFF’s support for the Sahrawi people’s struggle for independence.

“We are very clear, we are for the people of Western Sahara and we must make sure that  they too realise their freedom in their lifetime.”

IOL News previously reported that Zuma shared his support for the Kingdom of Morocco, which considers the Western Sahara territory as its own, against the Algeria-backed Polisario front, which seeks an independent state in the desert territory.

The MK Party released a policy position earlier this week explaining that they believe South Africa and the Kingdom of Morocco should be committed to strengthening their bilateral relations, grounded in shared principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and African unity.

“The MK Party’s identity is deeply rooted in the historic struggle for liberation and dignity in South Africa. Similarly, Morocco’s history is marked by its resistance to colonial domination and its determined pursuit of national unity.

“Both nations were shaped by their anti-colonial struggles — South Africa from apartheid and Morocco from French and Spanish rule.

“In this regard, Morocco has played a pivotal role in supporting South Africa through its fight for liberation. Morocco was the first country to lend financial and military support to Umkhonto weSizwe in 1962.

“Morocco’s efforts to reclaim its full territorial integrity align with the MK Party’s commitment to preserving the sovereignty and unity of African states,” the policy states.

On Saturday, the ANC lambasted the use of the national flag in Zuma’s meeting with Moroccan officials.

“This reckless and provocative act constitutes a flagrant violation of international diplomatic norms and an unacceptable intrusion into South Africa’s internal political affairs. It is a dangerous attempt to delegitimise our constitutional order and discredit the authority of a democratically elected government.

“This inclusion of our national symbols in partisan activities hosted by foreign powers is not only misleading but also part of a broader agenda of foreign interference,” the ANC said.

The party called on the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) to issue a formal diplomatic protest and to demand an immediate explanation and apology from the Moroccan authorities.

“We also call on all South Africans, regardless of political affiliation, to reject this dangerous precedent that threatens our sovereignty, our democracy, and our national unity.

“We further condemn the opportunistic involvement of Jacob Zuma, who has aligned himself with efforts that erode South Africa’s standing in the international community and betray the principles of non-alignment, peace, and anticolonial solidarity that he once purported to uphold,” the party said.

“The leader of the MKP has revealed his true colours by demonstrating a lack of belief in the ANC’s political, economic, and ideological principles of progressive internationalism, Pan-Africanism, and solidarity on both international and continental levels.

“It is shameful that a former leader of a liberation movement is betraying our historical mission and showing his true colours as he stands in opposition to the aim of contributing to the creation of a better Africa and world that is more humane, just, equitable, democratic, and free world,” the ANC said.

On Sunday, Mbalula said that Zuma’s actions are not a surprise as “Jacob Zuma represents everything that is… pursued by sellouts”.

Mbalula came out to address the media during a short interval at the Cape Sun Hotel, where the ANC’s National Working Committee (NWC) met with the Provincial Executive Committee. This forms part of the ANC’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its organisational capacity and engage directly with structures of the movement across regions and districts.

“We, as the ANC, will fight side-by-side for the self-determination of the Sahrawi people. We are in solidarity with them, and Morocco must stop the occupation of Western Sahara.

“Zuma is no messiah. He is a sellout of note. For whatever reason, he is doing this is no surprise to us,” Mbalula said.

“The very decision to steal the assets of the ANC to form a political party, and call it what it is, to divide our people, to weaken the African National Congress, for his own personal aggrandisement, is what he has been. He will be remembered for that by history.”

simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za

IOL Politics 

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