Former allies seen dumping Malema

As the fate of ANC Youth League president Julius Malema was being sealed by the ruling party’s disciplinary committee, it emerged that some of his friends and allies were starting to ditch him as he sank further into troubled waters.

The Sunday Independent has established that a group of the league’s leaders aligned to Malema attempted twice to dislodge his close friend and treasurer-general, Pule Mabe, accusing him of being a “sell-out” plotting to take over from his embattled president should he be expelled from the organisation.

It has also emerged that the Hawks and Sars are closing in on Malema, sending questions to his lawyers.

The group, led by Malema’s spokesman, Floyd Shivambu, is said to be baying for Mabe’s blood and wanted to pass a motion of no confidence in him at the last two meetings of the league’s leadership - the national working committee (NWC) meeting earlier this month and the national executive committee lekgotla last week.

Mabe is said to have stood up during the NWC meeting and challenged those who wanted him to be removed, charging that those who had issues with him should do it openly and not stab him in the back.

This was after Shivambu had apparently challenged Mabe to clarify allegations that he had been working secretly to oust Malema.

Mabe is accused of siding with President Jacob Zuma’s camp. The Malema group wants to replace Zuma with Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe.

The news of Mabe and Malema’s fallout and subsequent attempts to remove him came as speculation went into overdrive this week that Malema was to be expelled by the ANC’s disciplinary committee, which would refer its decision to a special national executive committee meeting on February 27.

More than five league leaders detailed how the relationship between Malema and Mabe had soured since the disciplinary charges against Malema and his executives.

Among the reasons Mabe was now seen as traitor were:

l His absence during the league’s visit to the home of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela a fortnight ago after the ANC’s appeal committee upheld Malema’s conviction;

l His failure to attend Malema’s end of the year party; and

l His objection to the league’s approach on the disciplinary charges and appeal

Malema’s allies want to see Mabe’s back. “This is a coward and a sellout. He has always been harbouring ambitions (of being the league’s president),” said a youth league leader close to Malema.

Another said Shivambu confronted Mabe on a variety of matters, intended to fight him on his position on Malema’s disciplinary hearing and the apparent desire to take over.

Mabe refused to comment on the matter. But sources close to him said he could not be blamed for not visiting Madikizela-Mandela’s home and Malema’s party as these were not official youth league events.

Mabe is said to have taken exception to how the league was approaching the disciplinary charges, often hinting that the league was defining itself outside of the ANC. He is said to have not actively participated in the drafting of the league’s latest statement in which it charges that Malema will remain its president until 2014 despite possible expulsion.

The Malema group, which includes the secretary-general, Sindiso Magaqa, is said to be sniffing around the finances of the league to nail Mabe should they come across any wrongdoing.

Sources close to Mabe said he had broken ranks with Malema.

“Raising it (the division) with him (Malema) is neither here nor there. He told the NWC meeting that he is waiting for them (to pass a motion of no confidence).”

Magaqa refused to comment on the matter yesterday, referring all questions to Shivambu.

Shivambu could not be reached for comment. - Sunday Independent