Addressing the media on Thursday (11/12), the EFF leader said Mbalula has already positioned himself as a frontrunner to succeed President Cyril Ramaphosa as head of the ANC.

“I’m telling you now, Mbalula is going to become president of the ANC if there is no serious intervention to stop him. I warned about this – if they allow Mbalula to continue what he is doing, he is going to lead them.

“If it was a marathon, Mbalula is ahead, while (Deputy President) Paul (Mashatile) is trying to catch up. It comes out of a so-called staged national general council (NGC) that has been organised in a manner unlike any before.”

Mbalula demonstrated his political power and influence during the recent NGC, Malema said. Ensuring that Ramaphosa is not removed as party president was a strategic move by Mbalula to show dominance over the organisation.

“You call it Cyril’s show of force because there were people who said they were going to remove him – and he didn’t get removed. It was never about that. Mbalula wanted it to show them that he is in charge.

“You remember, I ran these things in the ANC. We went to the NGC in KZN, and we defeated Zuma both in numbers and in policy position. After that, Zuma knew that these boys were going to remove him, because the NGC tells you what’s going to happen. That’s when he expelled us ahead of the Mangaung conference.

“We were expelled because he got a sign, and (ANC chairperson) Gwede (Mantashe) said they are pretending as if they are removing me – but they are actually coming for you. And he was right.

“We were making noise about Gwede, but we were really targeting this one. We won at the NGC in Durban, we got expelled, and that’s how Kgalema (Motlanthe) lost the Mangaung conference.”

Malema reiterated that internal ANC power dynamics are determined long before elective conferences. In his view, the current environment strongly favours Mbalula.

Mashatile and Mbalula have been widely mentioned as potential contenders, but a third candidate has reportedly emerged. National Assembly speaker Thoko Didiza is said to be entering the race with backing from senior party figures, including Ramaphosa, who previously supported Senzo Mchunu to succeed him.

“I’m telling you, what is prevailing now – the balance of forces shows that Mbalula is going to be president.”

Malema also claimed at the recent NGC, Mbalula took the spotlight by addressing delegates, including Ramaphosa, for two and a half hours. Malema said the reaction from ANC members was a clear signal of where the momentum lies.

According to Malema, Mbalula’s growing influence explains why the EFF has been sidelined from the GNU talks. He alleged that Mbalula fears the EFF’s participation may interfere with his path to the presidency.

Malema said Mbalula will only open the door for the EFF after securing the ANC presidency, at which point he would remove the DA and FF Plus from the unity government.

• Have a news tip to share? Phone or whatsapp the OFM News Hotline: 066 487 1427.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi cvs