SA ruling party concerned over Malema's "barrel of a gun" threat

The ruling African National Congress (ANC) on Monday voiced "extreme concern" over the remarks made by Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) leader, Julius Malema who vowed to remove the South African government "through the barrel of a gun".

"These remarks are a call to violence, are inflammatory, treasonable and seditious and should be treated with extreme seriousness," the ANC said.

In an interview with Al Jazeera on Sunday, Malema said the opposition "will run out of patience very soon and we will remove this government through the barrel of a gun" if the ANC continues to respond violently to peaceful protests.

Malema is the commander-in-chief of the EFF, an opposition party he founded in 2013 after being expelled from the ANC, where he had served as president of the ANC Youth League.

Malema's utterances "also are in clear violation of the Electoral Code and the Charter on Elections Ethics signed by a number of political parties -- including the EFF, last week", ANC national spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said.

In signing this Charter, political parties committed themselves to upholding and promoting Constitutional values, alongside the Elections Code before the August 3 local government elections.

"These reckless utterances display a shocking lack of judgment on the part of the leadership of the EFF who have a duty, together with all political parties, to ensure their membership abides with the laws of the land. The remarks made by Mr. Malema are a clear incitement to people to commit acts of violence, which is against the laws of the Republic," Kodwa said. Enditem