Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema says Patriotic Alliance (PA) deputy leader Kenny Kunene's journalist story is a “pure lie,” including his claim that he doesn’t know the Sandton businessman alleged to be DJ Sumbody’s killer, Katiso “KT” Molefe.
“Taking a journalist is not a secret operation. Who's that journalist? Who's that journalist? he asked.
“Why would you take a journalist to someone who just came out of prison, who's on bail, as an MMC?” Malema said that during the party’s press conference on Thursday afternoon in Cape Town, Western Cape, regarding the party’s 12th anniversary.
Malema said that when he heard Kunene, a former member of the EFF, was caught up in Molefe's home, he was on cloud nine.
“I'm very happy, you know, I dance even at night. Things are looking good. We told you these things are criminals. They are nothing else but mapantinti. (referring to criminals).
“He says he doesn't know that guy, he knows that guy. I know that guy. Not from a personal point of view…He's a well-known businessman. Until now, we knew him as a businessman.
Malema said that even though he knows Molefe as a businessman, he doesn’t have any relationship with him.
“But I don't have a relationship with him like that, where I can call Patrice Motsepe or go to his house, take my wife to Patrice Motsepe’s house. Patrice Motsepe's wife knows my wife. I don't know a guy like that,” he said.
However, the red berets leader claimed that Kunene was lying when he said he didn't know Molefe.
“But for Kenny to behave like that in public office and say he doesn't know that guy, that's a lie.
“It's a pure lie. And that's how thugs 26, 28 gangs succeed. They lie…they think they can outsmart everyone. They are just lying and they don't care whether you are convinced or not, they tell their story. It's done.”
“Kenny's story is not coming together,” Malema added.
IOL News previously reported that Kunene later confirmed that he was at Molefe’s house at the time of the arrest.
He said he was there with a young journalist from his media company to allow Molefe to respond to the murder allegations.
“If there’s a murder that happened and there are only two suspects - me and Kenny - I must be the main suspect,” McKenzie said on the sidelines of the National Assembly in Cape Town.
“Kenny could’ve had a gun, had a fly.”
McKenzie described Kunene as too accessible for his own good.
“That guy has such a soft character. That’s my fight with him always - he’s too accessible. One minute he’s in a squatter camp, the next he’s in the suburbs. He’s never at home,” he said.
McKenzie, who also serves as Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, said only a full investigation would determine the truth.
“People must also know we’ve worked very hard to rebuild our reputation after prison,” he said.
“We will never risk that by associating with criminals, even if they did this thing.”
“I want to congratulate the cops again. I’m glad they caught them. You will not find me or Mr. Kunene in the company of such people. What happened was very unfortunate.”
He also revealed that he spoke to Kunene, who insisted he had done nothing wrong.
“He said, ‘Yeah, I went there.’ He was supposed to meet someone, and that person told him to meet at that house and sent a location pin. It was his first time at the house,” McKenzie said during a Facebook Live session Tuesday night.
According to McKenzie, Kunene told him he didn’t know Molefe.
He said Kunene only knew the individual who sent the location.
When police arrived, they told everyone to get on the floor and Kunene complied, McKenzie said.
Police searched his phone, found no communication with Molefe, and later apologised, allowing him to leave.
McKenzie has since placed Kunene on a 30-day leave of absence from his role as MMC and from all party duties pending the outcome of the investigation.
McKenzie added that a law firm to investigate Kunene’s involvement would be announced on Friday.
simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za
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