The political bickering between old-time friends turned nemesis, EFF boss Julius Malema and ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula, has reached a point of no return.
This culminated with the two finding themselves under the same roof at deceased IFP lifetime president Mangosuthu Buthelezi in Ulundi recently. It was an awkward encounter.
According to Malema, who was speaking to Sunday World Engage this week, the “tension” between the two has reached new levels.
It was at this funeral, which was attended by almost everyone in the country’s political elite, that Mbalula was reluctant to greet Malema.
Mbalula also apparently wanted to snub former ANC President Jacob Zuma at the same funeral service until Malema intervened.
The two have been in a persistent political war since Mbalula’s election into the ANC’s most powerful office.
Malema said he does not give a flying kite about whether Mbalula dislikes him as long as he stays out of his political way.
In his view, Mbalula’s cold shoulder towards him is a power trip that the Luthuli House boss will not sustain.
“Previously, always when there are tensions between myself and Mbalula we would be cordial until now when I met him at Prince Buthelezi’s funeral. I could sense the tension,” said Malema.
“He came greeting everybody and when it was time to come greet me, he hesitated, and I know him when he does not like people, so I could see now we have reached the real point of disliking each other and I do not care about him, he can go jump.
“He wanted to avoid Msholozi (Zuma) there at Prince Buthelezi’s funeral. I am the one who told him to greet the old man. So, he is personal like that, he thinks power never comes to an end.”
Malema believes that Mbalula started beefing with him when many said he would match the red berets leader toe to toe.
But Malema says the EFF is ready to take the war to Mbalula ahead of the 2024 national and provincial elections.
*The full interview with Malema will premiere this Sunday on the Sunday World News YouTube channel.
