Bantu Holomisa on calls for Sisulu to be fired: ‘She belongs to the untouchables in the ANC’

17 January 2022 - 08:00
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UDM leader Bantu Holomisa says he was shown the door by the ANC despite 'the much celebrated constitutional rights enshrined in our constitution'.
UDM leader Bantu Holomisa says he was shown the door by the ANC despite 'the much celebrated constitutional rights enshrined in our constitution'.
Image: Simphiwe Nkwali

UDM leader Bantu Holomisa has weighed in on calls for tourism minister Lindiwe Sisulu to be given the boot from President Cyril Ramaphosa’s cabinet, claiming “she belongs to the untouchables within the ANC”.

Several bodies, including the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution, the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, Corruption Watch, the Defend Our Democracy campaign, Freedom Under Law, the Helen Suzman Foundation and Judges Matter, called for action to be taken against Sisulu in the aftermath of her comments about the constitution and judiciary.

In an opinion piece titled “Hi Mzansi, have we seen justice?", Sisulu claimed the constitution did not work for masses of Africans who languished in poverty. She also questioned black judges, suggesting they are “mentally colonised Africans who have settled with the world view and mindset of those who have dispossessed their ancestors”.

Taking to Twitter on Sunday, Holomisa weighed in on the calls for Sisulu’s axing.

“Haaaaaaaa. Sisulu belongs to the untouchables within the ANC, unlike [Julius] Malema and Holomisa who were shown the door, notwithstanding the much celebrated constitutional rights enshrined in our constitution.

“Let them swim in their own stew. Animal Farm,” he wrote, tagging former ANC Youth League and current EFF leader Julius Malema.

Malema retweeted the message.

Sisulu’s comments have drawn widespread backlash but also fierce support from other quarters.

Several organisations, government and justice minister Ronald Lamola have distanced themselves from her comments and criticised her.

Acting chief justice Raymond Zondo called Sisulu’s piece an insult to the entire judiciary and said it was riddled with baseless accusations. He also called for action to be taken.

Malema and the EFF slammed Zondo for his comments, telling Sisulu not to be bullied by “anyone on the payroll of CR17”.

Former president Jacob Zuma’s daughter Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla came to Sisulu’s defence, while Zuma’s spokesperson Mzwanele Manyi claimed Sisulu is “the biggest threat” to Ramaphosa’s campaign for a second term as ANC president.


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