The Royal Family for the Kingdom of AbaThembu (RFKA) has hit back at Julius Malema, saying the EFF leader’s comments when addressing the Oxford Union in the United Kingdom last week were “mischievous and disrespectful”.
Malema reportedly said the late former president Nelson Mandela turned his back on parts of the revolution after being released from prison. He said the deviation from the Freedom Charter was the beginning of the selling out of the revolution.
Spokesman Daludumo Mtirara said: “Madiba put the interests of the country before his immediate family – the Mandela and the greater Dlomo families. He was such a unique character that dedicated most of his time selflessly to the people of South Africa.”
He said they were aware of the challenges of transition Mandela faced as the first president of the democratic country.
He managed to rise above the politics that Malema was referring to. “We don’t even know what Julius Malema meant about selling out while referring to a stalwart who had been honoured for his selfless contribution in the process of rebuilding a non-racial country,” said Mtirara.
“The royal family strongly condemns any form of attack on Nkosi Dalibhunga Nelson Mandela. Julius Malema seems to have lost the respect that this country requires from people of his age,” said Mtirara.
Defending his grandfather’s legacy on Saturday, Mandla Mandela said only sell-outs would trade South Africa’s proud struggle history for “cheap sound-bites”.
“There are no limits to Julius Malema’s naughty behaviour. This time it was Madiba’s legacy that he attacked. He didn’t realise that he was hacking the very branch on which he was sitting. He has failed woodwork again,” said Mandla in a statement.
AbaThembu royal family lashes Malema over Madiba remarks
Malema reportedly said the late former president Nelson Mandela turned his back on parts of the revolution after being released from prison. He said the deviation from the Freedom Charter was the beginning of the selling out of the revolution.
Spokesman Daludumo Mtirara said: “Madiba put the interests of the country before his immediate family – the Mandela and the greater Dlomo families. He was such a unique character that dedicated most of his time selflessly to the people of South Africa.”
He said they were aware of the challenges of transition Mandela faced as the first president of the democratic country.
He managed to rise above the politics that Malema was referring to. “We don’t even know what Julius Malema meant about selling out while referring to a stalwart who had been honoured for his selfless contribution in the process of rebuilding a non-racial country,” said Mtirara.
“The royal family strongly condemns any form of attack on Nkosi Dalibhunga Nelson Mandela. Julius Malema seems to have lost the respect that this country requires from people of his age,” said Mtirara.
Defending his grandfather’s legacy on Saturday, Mandla Mandela said only sell-outs would trade South Africa’s proud struggle history for “cheap sound-bites”.
“There are no limits to Julius Malema’s naughty behaviour. This time it was Madiba’s legacy that he attacked. He didn’t realise that he was hacking the very branch on which he was sitting. He has failed woodwork again,” said Mandla in a statement.
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