Johannesburg – Former ANC Youth League president Julius Malema has gone on the offensive against Ronald Lamola, describing his former deputy as a “traitor” and “sellout” who has crawled back to President Jacob Zuma.

In an exclusive interview with The Star on Tuesday, Malema said his former ANCYL deputy was negotiating with Zuma and ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe to switch allegiance in exchange for a chance to take over as league president after Mangaung.

Describing Lamola as a “small boy”, Malema has vowed that his former deputy would never lead the youth league because of “his selling-out tendencies”.

He said he had never needed Lamola in his life and was shocked when he saw him at his first court appearance for money-laundering in Polokwane in September.

In an indirect swipe at Lamola, who is in charge of the league, Malema said the league was currently disorganised, did not know whether it was coming or going, and that people communicated its decisions as if they were not committed.

He added that Zuma had paralysed the ANCYL.

The axed youth leader accused Lamola and others of having asked Zuma and Mantashe to expel suspended ANCYL secretary Sindiso Magaqa, who is due to return in April, because they see him as a threat to their ambitions.

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