It would be easy to dismiss ANC Youth League president Julius Malema as an irresponsible fool. That he surely is, but fools can be dangerous — just ask the relatives of Iraqis who were killed during or after the American invasion ordered by another irresponsible fool, George Bush — so we may do well to take this fool seriously.
According to the Times, Malema told a Youth Day rally that his organisation was “prepared to take up arms and kill” if the impending fraud and corruption court case against Jacob Zuma was not dropped. Malema, who was addressing the rally in Thaba Nchu, Free State, said Zuma’s trial would “divide the country”, as the ANC leader is widely expected to be the country’s president when the trial begins in earnest around 2010.
When Malema was pressed by Redi Direko of Talk Radio 702 yesterday morning, he contradicted and confirmed his statements, saying:
“If anybody threatens our democracy, we don’t need anybody’s permission to act. Prosecution of Zuma is political. We are prepared to kill and die for forces of darkness who undermine the black majority or those who are opposed to progress.”
I must say, when I first saw pictures of Malema I was rather smitten — he is such a pretty guy — but now it turns out he is not at all boyfriend material. He sounds like a cross between Robert Mugabe and a character from The Lord of the Rings, huffing and puffing and muttering about the Dark Lord Sauron.
But what to do about this out-of-control youngster? Of course, if the ANC were serious about instilling discipline in its cadres, it would first distance itself unequivocally from these dangerous statements and then institute disciplinary proceedings against Malema. Surely he has bought the name of the organisation into disrepute? Should he not be “dealt with” and expelled, at the very least? What more must he do? Flash his buttocks for the camera?
Some have suggested that his comments constitute “hate speech” and that he could be held to account in terms of the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act. Section 10 of the Act prohibits anyone from making statements based on one or more of prohibited grounds such as race, sex, religion, sexual orientation or disability “against any person, that could reasonably be construed to demonstrate a clear intention to be hurtful; be harmful or to incite harm; or promote or propagate hatred”.
But as his words were not directed at an identifiable group listed in the Act (whites, women, homosexuals, Muslims), he has clearly not infringed this prohibition against hate speech. “Hate speech” is a much-abused term in our body politic. Whenever a person says something nasty or stupid, some politician (Patricia, are you there?) runs to the South African Human Rights Commission to complain about “hate speech”. Often, as in the present case, there are no grounds for such a complaint because a listed group was not targeted by the speech.
But it is a criminal offence to engage unlawfully and intentionally in conduct that defeats or obstructs the course of the administration of justice. To threaten to begin killing unspecified people if Zuma is tried (let alone if he is convicted) could well fall within the ambit of this criminal offence. Surely by stating that Zuma’s trial must be stopped and that the Youth League is prepared to kill to prevent Zuma from being convicted, Malema is interfering with the administration of justice? If I were the judge in any of Zuma’s trials, I would be rather nervous and feel intimidated by such irresponsible talk.
Somebody with some time on their hands should lay a criminal charge against Malema with the police. Maybe we can ask Gandolf or Frodo to do it for us?
Change is needed in any political party in South Africa, I think for anyone to be elected as president of any political party he/she must atleast hold a MASTERS degree.
I can tell you education helps!
To Thabang
“winnie dont use malema’s idiocy to discredit the history of the anc.your “There are no leading lights with in the ANC now or ever in the past.” just goes to show you narrowness.”…..
Thabang……name one ANC leader of note. From Picasso Mandela to Julius. Thirteen year olds should have the vote according to that brilliant Picasso Mandela during the 1990. Being an ANC executive member does not qualify you as a painter or scientist of note ask PW Botha’s daughter. They ( The leadership ) are there for the money and power for themselves, their families and cronies.
Viva and many amandla to you to
Winnie
With leaders like Malema, Africa will never reach its potential. For this I blame the greed in those who have tasted power. They will say and do whatever it takes to be in power even if it means raising people like Malema and Zuma into leadership positions.
But also I blame us, we who shout in the corners. if we know what to do why don’t we do it? why is the ANC currently led by clearly incompetent people?
Why are people like Xolela Mangcu who potray themselves as the voice of reason so evasive when they comment about the matter? Is it bcoz they would not want to anger the possible future president? and therefore compromise their future financial gains?
What happened to honor, pride, truth, glory of our land ?
The truth is that leaders exist in our South African community and they are not tainted by the evils of apartheid, but they keep quite.
That quiteness and apathy is destroying the African continent.
How I wish you leaders of our continent will arise and lead with intergrity and wisdom.
Keep judgement and not be clouded by the lust for money and power.
The truth is that history will judge us all without mercy for allowing fools to lead our land into ruin.
Lastly history has proved over and over again that in a contest between the wise and fools. Fools always loose. (eg a fool will incite civil war when he has never fought any war and therefore cannot lead any war.)
ARISE LEADERS OF THE CONTINENT AND TAKE YOUR POSITIONS
DO NOT GIVE TO DOGS WHAT IS THE GLORY OF OUR LAND.
ARISE!!!!!!!!!
The ANC – apart from a rapidly dwindling stock of noble souls who stay true to the founding ideals of the organisation – is a paranoid and degenerating squabble of autocrats who spout more rhetoric than sense. Its lately adopted sense of entitlement and obsession with emulating the nouveau politik of polecat despots elsewhere is eminently regrettable and is undoubtedly adding momentum to the gravespin of founders that are no longer here to admonish these cheeseboys that drag its name through the sewer. One can only hope that we are moving toward a new political landscape where the wheat and the chaff are separated by democratic principle and the rule of law. Anything less is too awful to contemplate.
‘the season has just started’- ?
Sisidenge lentwana indeed.
And why on earth shouldn’t 13 year olds have the vote? Cde Julius ‘Foot in Mouth’ Malema has a vote. I know 13 year olds who appear more eloquent, erudite and thoughtful and have clear and well thought out political positions compared to this.
They are singing my song. Who are these people singing my song. The song belongs to the ANC. The same people who booed the State President before a visiting Head Of State. The same disciplined cadres whodirespected then party president. The same people who staged vigils outside the Courts and will do so. They will burn T- Shirts, sing the ANC song, they will sing about people and their mothers as they have always done. Who are these people the? The same Malemas who get angry on behalf of Zuma.
For who? for the same Zuma. A dictactorship of a collective in the making?
If Julius Malema follows his ANCYL predecessors — Fikile Mboobaluba and that aggro little AIDS guy who used to chant “kill the boer, kill the farmer”, what’s his name again — he’s going to be in the cabinet soon.
Pretending to govern the country he and his comrades strove so hard to render ungovernable.
That’s got to be bit of a worry, hey? In the back of your head, at least?
The problem in my opinion is not with the ANCYL, the real problem is with the ANC itself. First on my list.
1. Zuma: He did not reprimand the embicile when it counted the most but rather enjoyed the cheap support cheered by rally goers. Remember that the same culprit(Zuma) is also enjoying the scandal currently giving our very own constitutional court a bad smell. He will be president of this country, that being said, it is probably safe to also say that those foolish enough to buy his face as to get ‘position’ in the new order should be stayed from any social convictions. “Forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.”
2.”The old ANC Leadership”: This collectively includes the likes of Ntate Nelson Mandela. Part of being a remarkable leader, should include nurturing the ‘new’ kids on the block, so that once you are out of office your hard work and sacrifices would not all be in vain. The ANC needs to be a political party, and not a freedom party. They need to stop undermining the masses.
3.”Africans People”: This list includes all of us. we need to stop giving our politicians so much power. We are suffering from some sort-of ‘dictator ready’ syndrom. We believe that the government is on our side in the battles agaist AIDS, POVERTY, CRIME!! Reality check: in the 14years since ‘freedom’, very little has changed, some may say that things have even taken a turn for the worst. Put yourself in the right GEAR when you BE[E] the judge.
Let us not get ahead of ourselves though, true love, just like true democracy should be able to with-stand any climate.
Do trully love your country? Prove it, cast your vote (2009)!
SORRY Malema – I derided your intelligence without knowing you were too occupied stirring”paw paw” to bother about uplifting your intelligence. You were unable to complete your matric despite trying over many years.
I forgive your ignorance Julius. Its your speciality.
I found these links explained my concern about a moronic future leader.
http://www.thetimes.co.za/Columnists/Article.aspx?id=788590
Youth Day gatering
Mondli Mahkaya ..”"That occasion was to serve as a great antidote that evening when I saw Julius Malema on television talking rubbish and threatening to kill people. Not only was it a criminally disgusting speech, but it also reflected just how out of touch South Africa’s youth leadership is with the needs of its constituency.
I have no clue who (judges, prosecutors, policemen or investigators) Malema intends to kill in defence of his highly corruptible hero, but the way he emphasised the word “kill” in that speech was spine-chilling. Perhaps that was the intention.
All I know about Malema is that he is given to drivel and dangerous rhetoric — often followed up with action.
I could never describe this more fully and eloquently than Fred Khumalo has done on his page this week.
But what I can do is quote something Malema wrote on the ANC website last week: “Our march to a truly emancipated society where its youth are at the centre of its growth and development require of us all to make a concerted effort in building a society that is truly responsive to the needs of the youth alongside those of the poorest of the poor. In advancing the tasks of the current phase of the national democratic revolution, we must be mindful of the challenges that still loom large, and we must draw resolve and political will to bring to reality that which the 1976 generation fought for.”
And then he continued:
“As we pledge allegiance to our democracy and put in place the critical building blocks towards the nation-state envisaged in the Freedom Charter, we must jealously defend the gains of our revolution and remain vigilant in the face of intense antagonism. It must never elude us that forces of counter-revolution remain active and are waiting in the wings for an opportune moment to pounce. It is our task to obliterate these forces and ensure that our democracy is not under threat from any quarter.”
Now this is the gunge — if you managed to wade through it — that lives in the head of the leader of the country’s most influential youth formation.
So, I wasn’t very surprised when he said he and his comrades were prepared to kill in defence of Zuma.
Fred Khumalo verbatim quote
“”People look at him, an elected leader of the ANCYL and thus a potential future leader of this country, and quickly conclude that the boy-who-was-dropped-on-his-head is a reflection of the best brains and talent this country has to offer.
After all, the youth league produced the likes of Advocate Anton Lembede, Nelson Mandela and others, and it therefore is logical to expect the next cadre of leaders should come from this body.
But the aforementioned gentlemen did not shy away from school because isikolo sinendawo yaso (school has its own role), as the Xhosas say.
Now, there’s food for thought, for those who were not dropped on their heads when they were young.
But, on second thoughts, I think I have to thank the gods of academia for denying Malema the stamina for rigorous study.
Imagine a highly educated Malema. He would be going all over the place like one Ronald Suresh Roberts, insulting everyone who disagrees with his notion of what makes a good intellectual, or a good analyst, or a good politician, or a good human being, for that matter. Now, there’s a real ihlongandlebe.
Malema’s problem does not end with his education; it’s got everything to do with his head. But let me stop here before I get sued.”"
I rest my case and argument about Black Leadership potential if the “silent majority” do not make a stand.
Come on, admit it. The whole blinking ANC show is simply falling apart at every seam. Voting for these swirling hordes of useless ANC goofballs is what lemmings would do if lemmings could vote. Just before chucking their useless little lemming bodies into the freezing ocean to feed the crabs.