Derek Hanekom is ‘a known enemy agent’, says Zuma

Former president Jacob Zuma has broken his silence on the revelations by Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema that ANC national executive committee member and former tourism minister Derek Hanekom met with EFF secretary-general Godrich Gardee several times to discuss “ways to oust” then president, Zuma.

He said he was not surprised by it and further reminded people of his testimony at the state capture commission where he accused some ANC comrades of plotting against him.

“I’m not surprised by Julius Malema revelations regarding Derek Hanekom. It is part of the plan I mentioned at the Zondo Commission. Derek Hanekom is a known enemy agent,” he said.

Responding to “spy agents” allegations against him, Hanekom said: “People believe what they want to believe. Yes, in 1983 we forwarded very sensitive information about SADF support to Renamo to the ANC. This information was shared with Frelimo. The source was Roland Hunter, who served 5 years in prison.”

The former minister made headlines on Tuesday after admitting to have met with the EFF several times to discuss “ways to oust” Zuma.

Hanekom, however, downplayed the revelation, saying it had mostly been informal and that he had merely had coffee with Gardee.

“People of different parties have coffee with each other all the time. He is making something big out of nothing,” Hanekom said. Hanekom also denied that he’d given the EFF a list or that he’d told them about plans to start a breakaway party if Cyril Ramaphosa did not become ANC president.

Malema revealed outside the high court on Tuesday that the EFF had worked with the SA Communist Party’s Solly Mapaila and Hanekom to remove Zuma.

“Hanekom gave us the list of the ANC MPs who were going to vote with us in the vote of no confidence against Jacob Zuma,” Malema alleged. “Hanekom was preparing for formation of a new party if [Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma] won.”

ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule has since issued a statement, calling for action against Hanekom.

He said: “The African National Congress is dismayed by its national executive committee member Derek Hanekom’s confession that he did have several meetings with the opposition EFF to indicate that he and other ANC MPs would support the EFF vote of no confidence last February against former president Jacob Zuma.

“Hanekom had full access to air his acerbic views in the NEC of the ANC, he did so ad nauseum. He always spoke in an even, practised voice, linking all the bad publicity that the ANC has had to the accusations against former President Zuma.

“The ANC called for an open vote and it is Hanekom and others who put pressure on the speaker to accede to the demand by the EFF for a secret ballot.

“The agenda of the EFF by their own admission as an opposition party is to displace the ANC, they work fearlessly to divide the ANC and have a number of sleepers in the ANC proactively ensuring that divisions in the ANC are deepened.

“The ANC is working to unite its members and in our midst is Derek Hanekom – a wedge driver and on a mission to divide the ANC. Indeed this charlatan is making his mark through his ownership of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation. Hanekom does not have the capacity to form a new political party, but he has shown remarkable agility in his efforts to divide the ANC.

“Well we say to him and other EFF sleepers in the ANC, this only makes the members of the NEC, PEC REC and branches more determined to unite the ANC and deliver services to the people of South Africa.

“We will ride this storm of accusations, and counter-accusations.

“We will unite behind the leadership of President Ramaphosa and all ANC members of good faith and defeat the nefarious negative actions of Hanekom.”

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