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Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula seems to have lost his appetite for Twitter wars. Not even an angry tweet describing him as “Julius’ lapdog and pimp” was enough to thrust him into another round of heated war of words on a social media platform.
Mbalula politely responded to an angry outburst directed at him by a disgruntled ANC Youth League Limpopo member instead of going fiercely at him.
Not even a vulgar word referring to his private parts triggered a Twitter assault from the minister.
Boy Mamabolo directed his rage at Mbalula after a decision was made this weekend to reinstate the province’s dissolved ANC Youth League leadership, but as a provincial task team.
Mbalula, who has taken on the likes of radio personality Gareth Cliff, newspaper editor Adriaan Basson and Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema, played it calm when Mamabolo unleashed his tirade.
Mamabolo wrote: “No wonder Cde Tony Yengeni took u to the initiation school, realized gore ure soo stupid marete a gago”.
He also wrote to Mbalula: “Just focus on praising Mayweather and leave politics to politicians,ure so stupid and foolish Mbaks” and “we defeated u at Mangaung in 2012 and we will continue to defeat u bcos ure Julius’ lapdog and pimp here in the ANC”
In response, Mbalula wrote a short statement on Facebook: “Unfortunately for Boy Mamabolo and company, I don’t discuss internal organisational issues on Facebook and Twitter, I reserve that for the opponents and enemies of our revolution and movement.
“If he wanted to understand the reasons for the position we have taken with regard to Limpopo [provincial executive committee] he should have been there at the [provincial general council] on Sunday and raised his concerns. His personal hatred for me bears no consequence.
“I just wish to make his ilk aware that I am aware of his tirade of venomous insults and this will not go unchallenged in the ANC for such is not how [comrades] should behave.
“He is a law unto himself ... [I] wish to caution disciplined members of the [youth league] and ANC not to follow his example .... [look] forward to the ANC youth league congress on September 4 and 5.”
Mamabolo belonged to a faction that favoured a provincial conference held in May. At this conference, the provincial youth leadership was elected. The case is currently before the North Gauteng High Court.
A chairperson of Milo Malatji branch of the ANC, which covers Malema’s neighbourhood in Seshego, Mamabolo told City Press that Mbalula and Mthethwa “do not have powers to do what they did in Limpopo over the weekend” and accused them of favouring one side.
“Theirs as the congress preparatory committee is to ensure that a successful national congress is delivered and not to do anything else. We will certainly challenge their decision in court,” he said.
Independent Online reported that Mthethwa said action would be taken against those who took the matter to court without exhausting internal processes. “Those people will have a case to answer. If you just go to court, you should expect the organisation to come back to you,” said Mthethwa.
Meanwhile, his tweets were removed, but Mamabolo confirmed he wrote some that were directed at the former youth league leader.
Asked if he was scared of consequences after Mbalula said his words would not go unchallenged, Mamabolo dismissed this as threats.
