RANJENI MUNUSAMY: Can Malema still dictate the national agenda after VBS?
'Malema tweeted this week that his members should remain vigilant and focused as "the enemy is attacking". Who would that be exactly?'
EXTRACT
Ramaphosa was dragged along by the outrage machinery and essentially allowed the EFF to dictate what ought to happen. Even though Nene had to go, the president was unable to seize the moment to define the line on the state capture inquiry.
Considering that a significant portion of his cabinet and senior ANC leaders had relationships with the Guptas, what was the message stemming from Nene's unceremonious departure? Should other people continue to hide their dirty laundry, or should they come forward to admit their dalliances with the Guptas and face the axe?
It is possible that Ramaphosa did not pronounce the line on state capture and has not yet filled the cabinet vacancy following the death of environmental affairs minister Edna Molewa because he has not yet worked out what to do with the duds and compromised people in his cabinet.
On Tuesday, EFF leader Julius Malema will address a media briefing in Johannesburg and tell you what to think. Malema will claim that it was the EFF that delivered former finance minister Nhlanhla Nene's head on a platter and therefore continues to dictate the national agenda. He will not be wrong. The EFF was integrally involved in the campaign to pressure Nene into offering his resignation and President Cyril Ramaphosa into accepting it. Nene had no strategy whatsoever to manage his disclosures about meeting the Guptas at their Saxonwold home and to explain why he failed to disclose this until now. It seems that part of the reason Nene fell on his sword was to protect his children from the EFF. This followed the circulation of vicious stories targeting the children - unrelated to the allegation that Siyabonga Nene had solicited funding from the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) while his father chaired the state-owned fund manager. The presidency was caught off-guard by the sudd...
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