Mbalula denies making Zuma comments
Sport Minister Fikile Mbalula has denied making comments against President Jacob Zuma as reported by a newspaper on Monday
Mbalula said that a report in The Star was a fabrication aimed at causing sensation.
“At no stage of our conversation [his interview with the journalist] did I refer to President Zuma as marrying every week in and out, and being politically bankrupt,” Mbalula said.
“This is absolute nonsense and must be dismissed as such. It is not in my nature to play the man and not the ball, because anything of this sort would amount to cheap politics and character assassination.”
The Star’s deputy editor Kevin Ritchie said the newspaper stood by the story “unequivocally”.
In the report, Mbalula was quoted as attacking the president and rebuffing efforts by Zuma lobbyists to “neutralise” him.
Mbalula said in his statement that he would never “stoop so low” as to discuss personal issues with the journalist. “I wish to state clearly and categorically that, as we march to Mangaung, such media reports will emerge in the interest of sensationalism.”
Mbalula also lashed out at KwaZulu-Natal ANC secretary Sihle Zikala, who “served with me in the ANC youth as secretary general”, and at Eastern Cape ANC spokesman Mlibo Qoboshiyane, for not trusting him.
“For anyone not to give me the benefit, whether I said this or not, and quickly jump on the bandwagon to lynch me and vandalise my political being is totally disingenuous and a display of political opportunism with clear ulterior motives.”
The KwaZulu-Natal ANC said earlier that Mbalula had to withdraw his comments.
“If he fails to withdraw the statements, we would suggest he resigns as an NEC [national executive committee] member and as a sport minister,” it said.
“We have observed his desperate attempts to get elected to the ANC top six in Mangaung... .
“Perhaps Cde Mbalula should be reminded that in the ANC people do not campaign for themselves, but instead are nominated by ANC structures.”
Qoboshiyane said Mbalula was “acting like a child”.
“Given the fact that he follows in the shoes of the expelled ANC Youth League president [Julius Malema] in insulting the president, it is clear that Comrade Mbalula’s mind still thinks and acts like a child,” he said. “Minister Mbalula [must] now focus his political razzmatazz on sports infrastructure development and not on insult development.”
Presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj reportedly referred The Star’s requests for comment to the ANC.
National ANC spokesman Keith Khoza told The Star: “It is difficult for us, as the ANC, to comment because we haven’t spoken to the president, and neither did we speak to Mbalula. We are not even aware if the discussion between them did happen”.
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asaowe
Political prostitution that all i cn say, i said it yesterday.Report Abuse
RobinHH
Chicken!!Report Abuse
Thulz
Moegoe!!!Report Abuse
ngwanamaganagobotswa
The Star’s deputy editor Kevin Ritchie said the newspaper stood by the story “unequivocally”.==================================================================
Clearly Mbalula did said it, this guys got tendency of telling lies, maybe he was drunk as he used to and depend on alcohol to direspect the elders. Mbalula will soon be on the political dusbeen. The Motlanthe faction will never nominate him as Paul Mashatile is hellbent to make this fool political life miserable. Mbalula think ANC ke ya mmagwe, he must go to hell, Zuma for the 2nd term and Mathale and malefa to rot in jail.
ZUMA FOR 2nd Term, like it or go to hell!!!
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YSJones1
Enormous coward.Report Abuse
asaowe
wat a hypocrite counrty we have, ysterday ppl wr saluting Mbalula call hmm hero 2day hez a coward mhhh.Report Abuse
YSJones1
The ANC is in this state because of poeple like Mbalula, they cant stand up to the challenge, fearing political humiliation, Thabo Mbeki is still kicking, and yet we praised shower head for standing in Polokwane.Report Abuse
Shredder
Come on Mbalula don't chicken out man! You said it, we know. You politicians always say things and say you did not say that. Stand by your words. Grow the balls of steel like Malema.Report Abuse
CharlesTaylor
Hey Minister Razzzmatazz, you disappointed the ANC fraternity. I believed you were one of great comrades but to stoop low to Malema's level was not really like you. They say "if you argue with a fool, people will not see the difference" so that is what Zuma is doing to you and Malema. You political doors will close just after Mangaung and Cabinet reshuffle will be huge. You will never see the light of ANC and Luthuli House after that.Report Abuse
Mrazane
@ asaowe I don't think its hypocracy, yesterday he was called a hero for speaking his mind, and today he is being called a coward because he denies having said it.If Sowetan stands by its story, then I think they got their facts and perhaps a recording of the interview.
@ Sowetan if you have the recording please post it and let us hear for ourselves what the man said.
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