Malema's grandmother told him to say sorry to Naledi Pandor

16 June 2017 - 11:40 By Kgaugelo Masweneng
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Naledi Pandor. File photo.
Naledi Pandor. File photo.
Image: Sunday Times / Simphiwe Nkwali

It's emerged that Julius Malema may be a firebrand in public‚ but at home he's a man who listens to his grandma Sarah.

He revealed on Friday that she tasked him with saying sorry to Naledi Pandor‚ when he mocked the experienced cabinet minister.

In 2009 while he was still the African National Congress youth league president‚ Malema slammed the then Minister of Education's "fake accent"‚ when criticising Pandor's inability to resolve a salary dispute at the Tshwane University of Technology.

"She must use her fake accent to address our problems‚" he told hundreds of students and staff at the institution's Pretoria campus.

This did not sit well with Sarah Malema.

On the Metro FM interview with DJ Fresh on Friday morning‚ Malema said that he had apologised to Pandor for it.

"My grandmother immediately intervened and told me I shouldn't say such things. And I apologised."

Durban-born Pandor received most of her education in exile‚ in Botswana and England before returning to South Africa‚ studying and teaching History‚ English and Linguistics abroad and at home.

Malema's comments were made when he was asked about the times he has tendered apologies.

"I also apologised for supporting President Jacob Zuma because our country is going through a difficult situation because of the man we supported and had to make a president‚" he said

He blamed his mistakes on youth.

"I was young‚ like any young person‚ I had the license to make mistakes."

- TimesLive

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