Jackson Mthembu lambastes EFF for ‘attack’ on new NPA head

ANC chief whip Jackson Mthembu took to Twitter over the weekend to lambaste the leader of the EFF, Julius Malema, for his “attack” on the newly appointed head of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), advocate Shamila Batohi.

This comes after Malema told a packed-to-capacity crowd at the Giant Stadium in Soshanguve during the party’s manifesto launch on Saturday: “I’ve got no trust in the newly appointed NPA head. She is very close to Pravin Gordhan.

“She is controlled by a group that is very close to Pravin. They appointed her to protect the crimes of Pravin Gordhan and the cabal of Gordhan and Cyril Ramaphosa.

“The EFF will appoint an independent NPA head who is going to arrest criminals, whether they are EFF criminals [or not].”

On Sunday, Mthembu took to Twitter to question what had motivated Malema’s “unprovoked and unprincipled attack” on Batohi.

“Does the looting of VBS by EFF and fear of prosecution explain this arrogance and total stupidity on his part?” Mthembu further questioned, adding: “Dictum of attack as defence.”

What motivated @Julius_S_Malema's unprovoked , unprecedented and unprincipled attack on the new #NDPP head , advocate #ShamilaBatohi ? Does the looting of #VBS by EFF and fear of prosecution explain this arrogance and total stupidity on his part ? Dictum of attack as defence .

— Minister Jackson Mthembu (@JacksonMthembu_) February 3, 2019

Some EFF members were implicated in the alleged wide-scale looting of the VBS Mutual Bank.

Mthembu further tweeted that Batohi must not be “deterred by some unscrupulous and mindless” EFF leaders seeking “to draw her to their political wars”.

“She must refuse to be an EFF political football,” Mthembu tweeted.

I join millions of patriotic #SouthAfricans in welcoming advocate #ShamilaBatohi as head of #NDPP . She must not be deterred by some unscrupulous and mindless @EFFSouthAfrica leaders who try to draw her to their political wars . She must refuse to be an eff political football .

— Minister Jackson Mthembu (@JacksonMthembu_) February 3, 2019

The ANC chief whip offered “free advice” to Malema and his party, urging them not to judge Batohi before she has started her work but should rather do so “by what she does in her appointed position”.

“Some of us are confident that she will do her work without any fear, prejudice, or favour,” Mthembu tweeted.

We want to give @Julius_S_Malema and his @EFFSouthAfrica free advice , don't judge #ShamilaBatohi before she even starts her work , judge her by what she does in her appointed position . Some of us are confident that she will do her work without any fear , prejudice or favour .

— Minister Jackson Mthembu (@JacksonMthembu_) February 3, 2019

Mthembu sent a reminder to the leader of the red berets and the party that the commission of inquiry into state capture awaited their evidence under oath that Gordhan had allegedly enabled state capture.

“You are so arrogantly loudmouthed but always fail to prove your allegations. Empty tins…” Mthembu tweeted.

A reminder to @Julius_S_Malema and @EFFSouthAfrica , the #StateCaptureInquiry is still waiting for your evidence under oath that #PravinGordhan " enabled state capture " . You are so arrogantly loudmouthed but always fail to prove your allegations . " Empty tins………."

— Minister Jackson Mthembu (@JacksonMthembu_) February 3, 2019

As I receive the usual insults from @EFFSouthAfrica stormtroopers let me repeat what is universally agreed to " truth hurts " .

— Minister Jackson Mthembu (@JacksonMthembu_) February 3, 2019

https://twitter.com/Thabisoo_T/status/1092284797924397056

(Compiled by Makhosandile Zulu. Additional reporting, Brian Sokutu)

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