“Leave him to us. It looks like this guy has defeated you,” Malema said during a press briefing in Braamfontein following the party’s plenum meeting held over the weekend.
Malema’s remarks come after Zuma’s alleged refusal to resign, ignoring pleas from the ANC top six officials including ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa.
Malema also revealed that his party was considering legal action to stop Zuma from delivering Sona.
“If his party says he must go. Why must he speak?”
He said that a motion of no confidence in Zuma was going to be tabled in parliament on Thursday.
This is despite the fact that National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete has declined the EFF’s request for a motion to be debated before Sona.
Malema argued that Zuma has defied his own party, the ANC, and will do it again.
“Sona must come. Our people need to know the state of affairs. But it must be delivered by a different person who respects the constitution.”
He said that the people of South Africa do not want a criminal to deliver Sona.
Malema said Zuma has dared the ANC to fire him.
“What is even worse is that he is not scared of impeachment. The ANC is in trouble. When we started we were told that we are rascals and anarchists. Today the man is saying he is not going anywhere.”
Malema lashed out at Ramaphosa, saying he is part of the mess South Africa is confronted with today.
He also accused Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi and Gauteng premier David Makhura of being responsible for the Life Esidimeni tragedy.
“They killed people. They must take full responsibility. No one is arrested,” Malema said.
He said that his party would embark on an anti black racism campaign.
“All companies paying white people more than blacks shall be confronted to transform.”
Meanwhile, the ANC’s powerful decision-making National Executive Committee (NEC) will meet on Wednesday to discuss the “management of the transition between the 5th and 6th administration of government and pending actions in Parliament” – just a day before President Jacob Zuma is due to deliver the State of the Nation Address.
This was revealed following Monday’s meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) – a meeting which itself came after the party’s Top Six officials met with Zuma on Sunday to request that he resign. However‚ Zuma declined to do this‚ asking what has he done wrong.
The NWC decided at Monday’s meeting that a special NEC would take place a Wednesday‚ the day before Zuma is scheduled to deliver the SONA.
The NEC is the party’s highest decision-making body between conferences.
In a statement issued on Monday night‚ the ANC said the among the issues to be discussed at the NEC meeting were preparations for SONA and a report back from the NWC “on matters mandated to it‚ including management of the transition between the 5th and 6th administration of government and pending actions in Parliament”.
If the ANC decides to use parliamentary processes to remove Zuma‚ it will either have to use a motion of no confidence or impeachment.
The EFF tabled a motion of no confidence against Zuma‚ which will be heard on February 22.
Zuma has survived seven motions of no confidence since he took office.
