“The Young Communist League of South Africa (YCLSA) wants to talk to the ANC Youth League about its president Julius Malema’s insults against South African Communist Party general secretary Jeremy Cronin.
It was ‘disgusted’ at the insults against Cronin, who is also the deputy minister of Transport, YCLSA spokeswoman Gugu Ndima said in a statement.
In his attack on Cronin, Malema said the ANCYL did not ‘need the permission of white political messiahs to think’.
This, after Cronin published an article criticising Malema’s call to nationalise mines.
Ndima said: ‘The YCLSA believes that Malema has sunk to the lowest ebb of being racist and hurling insults, instead of engaging with profound debates that Cronin was raising.’
We view the labelling of Cronin as a ‘white messiah’ not only as racist, but as an insult to the principle and ideology of the national liberation movement, that of non-racism.” (Richmark Sentinel)
Unfortunately this theme of racism is being encountered far too frequently in the new South Africa. More often than not it has become black attacks on whites.
If it’s not the sports ministers calling whites and Indians incompetent it’s the ANCYL with Malema becoming a serial offender.
We could go on all day with the BMF, the Black Lawyers Association and even the Cope youth leader, Ms Mda, openly slating whites.
Of course they have the example of Zimbabwe that great bastion of human rights and economic disaster to draw on. One look at that country and 199 out of 200 countries would run the opposite way — we are the other 1.
In 1994 the ANC and Madiba ushered in a new non-racial era where racism was to be considered the ultimate sin.
Unfortunately from where I’m standing right now it seems that black racism is not considered racism at all :
Dictionary — “Racism : noun ; discriminatory or abusive behaviour towards members of another race”.
Accordingly unless someone creates a new “only for blacks” dictionary the term means discrimination towards any other race by a race.
If this sorry state of affairs is going to be allowed to continue two major downsides will become apparent sooner rather than later.
Firstly whites will vote with their feet and leave in droves. This may amuse some now, but the economic impact that will have will soon wipe the smiles off those faces.
Secondly those that remain will start to consider separatism — currently the preserve of the lunatics — as something far more mainstream. I mean what are the chances that this army won’t be on strike if the day dawns.
The time has come for the president and his cabinet as well as the party to clamp down hard on this unnecessary evil.
The fact that the World Cup will be here next year makes it an embarrassing, enduring and ugly feature of our country — possibly soon to be highlighted globally.
Let’s face it until we started performing the Canadians actually believed that South Africa was a place from where whites had to flee and seek asylum.
So Traps your ANC mates have dropped you again hey. Jules won’t get a “hard line” taken against him. He has lots of supporters (Sphiwo, Sipho, Lubabala & Madoda on this page alone). These guys are proving Huntley right, very sadly. There is a genuine desire to chase whites out of SA (but its not racism!). Methinks it’s time for a poll or referendum – whites to go or stay?
Otherwise the next step could be Zim, Rwanda or Germany pre WW2. You are not dealing with rational people here (but they are not racists, oh, no, no).
@Maurice Cowley
Rubbish: Usually it is the colonial collaborator ‘natives’ that take over and involve themselves in that kind of corruption. All South Africa shows is that collaboration is not necessary for that kind of corruption. Kenya is a typical example. Ditto Nigeria.
I’ve now got a firm view that Traps himself is increasing becoming racist in his analysis.His latest blogs are sooo one sided.
Spot on Jobe. “These mandela nonsense of Rainbow nation” must go back to Europe. I couldnt have said it better.
some people think they are making this country a favour by being here,you want to leave, adios.life will go on and we will have space to xplore more, who told you blacks are incompetent?some narrow-minded twits tell us they are xperts of some sort for over 30yrs,stuff you this u are not special.maybe you are educated but u are not intelligent.Mr Malema is in his own rights to defend his own territory and discipline those he feels want to take him and blacks for a ride…
So, VinceR, tell us. These Elders who are supposedly papying our our taxes, who are they? Would they happen to be white? Thought so. And you honestly believ that you are better than the much-maligned Malema. I may not necessarily agree with the man, but at least he is honest. I have always had a sneaky suspiciion that those individuals who constantly bleat about the so-called rainbow nation have not been on some of these sites or cared to listen to SAFM or any of the white stations during call-in sessions to realise how divided we are as a country. I, for one, am not harbouring any hope with this generation.
Just a quick point for those who think I condone racism the other way :
http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/traps/2009/10/25/jansen-is-easy/
I would also suggest you scroll back and see my approach on issues.
Some guys I support and some I let have it.
Unfortunately I totally cross colour lines forgetting which race is which most of the time.
Unless the issue is racism.
Try and remember guys that the people in power are overwhelmingly black.
Accordingly either we treat them on their merits or declare debates off limits.
I will continue to call them as I see them.
Your comments section is there for you to give other points of views and call me names as well.
Rejoice Ngwenya – that is an insightful, well considered comment.
“Firstly whites will vote with their feet and leave in droves. This may amuse some now, but the economic impact that will have will soon wipe the smiles off those faces.”
I fail to understand how this comment implies blacks are incompetent or unintelligent. I really don’t. If too many of the people who hold most of the wealth and skills leave the country of course there will be a massive economic impact because they leave taking their wealth and skills with them. Notwithstanding the fact that much of this wealth and skill is ill gotten, unjust gain by virtue of the exclusion of blacks in the past from anything approaching a good education or from the opportunity of amassing wealth or property – the harsh, unjust reality still remains. The wealth and skill are hopelessly inadequately and unequally spread. This has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with incompetence or lack of intelligence on the part of black people. Anyone with half a brain by now knows that blacks are just as capable of excelling in any given field and are doing so in their thousands – no doubt. However, the reality is that blacks are still playing catch up through no fault of their own. Fifteen years cannot wipe out decades, even centuries, of exclusion from almost everything whites enjoyed – neither can so few years wipe out the backlog in gaining skills or wealth. This is not rocket science!
If Malema wants to nationalize the mines, then perhaps he and his cronies who have already screweed up the educational systme, the health care system, the water supply,the HIV/AIDS campaign, the Land Bank, the SABC, ESKOM, etc. will run the mines in the same incredibly competent and intelligent way and show that in every respect they are as good as their white compatriot who were banished from these places or are being badmouthed and being old that they should leave. The incredibly competent record of the Malemas and the other erstwhile non-racist black commentators will prove the point in the not too distant future.
Very well written Michael.
The writing has been on the wall for some time. It is now being painted with greater frequency, by more and more people every day and in bold lettering.
Indians and coloureds beware: You are surely next in line….
Julius: “Julius Malema will be president in a decade or two.Then you will toe the line.” What line? You seem to be yearning for some drastic anti-white Nazi-style measures. Well, the British press said once that a new Mugabe might arise in SA. Like, for instance, Malema. Although he would probably be more like Idi Amin.They are seemingly not short of supporters. Another such Malema supporter said: “SA do not need whites. In fact, when whites leave then they would no longer block the hiring of black graduates”Provided, of course, that there would still be companies around after white capital departs. How naive and blind these racists are!To me the greatest human supidity is, when you are willing to cut your own throat just to prove a point.
Given our history as a country up until 1994 it is not suprising that there are racist individuals to be found in many places and positions in our beloved country.
Sadly that situation will certainly not change or fade away whilst racist thinking is still enshrined in the laws of the land.
With the change of goverment in 1994 I, and many others, hoped that we were at last entering an era where, starting at government level, legislation would be framed for people and not for this or that racial grouping. I was soon to be disappointed as the ANC brought in racist legislation ostensibly to remove the effects of past racism. It is simply not possible to cure racism by enacting further racist legislation in order to remove the effects of past racism. The approach might be appealing to some people but logically it simply cannot work as a means of eliminating racism in society. In fact it is, as it would seem from what is happening right now, providing the context for individuals to stoke racist fires. This is very sad.
I guess the commentators who believe that racism is solely due to white supremacists have not had the opportunity of travel. You seem to think that racism is the preserve of whites, jump onto a plane and visit Japan, China and India to get an idea of what their attitudes are wrt to people of other nations, be it western, eastern, african are from the arctic. You will very quickly be dissuaded from your notion that it is only the humble black african who is the perpetual victim of racism.
blacks are racist to whites… and u write some news articles about it… 1-2 ous get offended. whites were racist to blacks and we had an entire arms industry created to suppress the black people… millions died…
r u trying to compare apples with potatoes… (aartappels) or are u just being overly sensitive… read Maslow… if someone demands thru illegitimate means their right to hold power or opportunity or right or title – and then fails to execute that obligation effectively – it is only natural to denigrate the people who set the standard that you have just failed to meet.
case in point… no-one can accuse indian people of being incompetent at laundering money, paying bribes, rigging tenders, empowering thousands of passenger shareholders who are trading on their ethnicity; and generally ensuring that Luthuli House has its bills paid and its operations running…
maybe if people wanted work (and did 8 hours of work in an 8 hour shift) instead of a job, perks, a salary, the capacity to borrow money, and all the fried chicken and loose goose that can be procured… then maybe just maybe people who feel less inadequate and more competent – at least that’s the way it looks from a psychological perspective… but like i said… read Maslow
Well Mr Trapido i am glad you finally took a a stand, from now on i suggest YOU KEEP IT REAL. I have changed my mind you are as racist as the rest of them.
Be honest now Traps. Do you concur with Jeremy when he says Malema and ANCYL’s understanding of mining is bling, sorry jewellery? Or is your obsession to point out that blacks can be racists as well getting the better of your reasoning.Stop denying your supremacist attitude, in every blog you display it. I have had more advise for Jacob Zuma from you than any other writer.
LubabaloN – Mr Cronin pointed out the obvious – that the motivation by the ANCYL is not the selfless ideological motivation that it presents, but rather one where the ANC and their cronies have put their penchant for luxury goods before that of the people of South Africa. In Cronins view, the Nationalization of the mines will once again result in a few more ANC elite benefiting while the masses suffer. That is the PROVEN tendency of the ANC government, and there is absolutely no reason to believe that it will be different this time around.
Mr Cronin also makes an interesting and valid point in that the Charter was written a long time ago. The world was a very different place back then.
An important but oft overlooked fact was that the communist countries were also after our natural resources back when the Charter was written. This was the reason that they so very generously funded and trained so many ANC operatives. In essence, what these countries were expecting was payback if the ANC ever got into power.
This was part of the reason to Nationalize the mines – so the state could export our mineral wealth to their communist overlords.
The communist world has however changed significantly. The only major player still in the game is China, and they are certainly making sure that they get their pound of flesh in Africa.
Funny how the black racists down south seem to have a problem with whites while many of their black continental brothers and sisters love whites. Look at how Zim farmers are in demand in Nigeria, Mozambique and Zambia. Wonder why? Could it be skills depseratley needed to feed those nations? Speaking of Nigeria – apparently national pride is at an all time low – some of them think the whites left too early – before creating enough of an infrastructure and industry as happened in SA.
The Julius apologists and black racists on this blog should try lifting those logs off their shoulders. To deny black racism is to deny centureies of inter tribal strife and Xenophobia in Africa. Where was Ubuntu then?
Trapido, the fact that you say this country will suffer if white people leave is RACIST. You are in essence negating any contribution by blacks in this country. White people are a minority here and according to you , the economic backbone of SA but guess who buys their products??? In a couple of years this situation will be vice versa anyway so I will join the chorus and say all those who want to voetsek can do so with pleasure. We are tired of white people’s condescending attitudes towards blacks. Anyway why do you care so much if you can make threats like this?? Go and we will all perish but at least it would be our choice. What gives you the balls to tell us what is good for us, RACIST? So what if you have criticized black and white people before, criticism does not necessarily reflect bigotry but your supremacy certainly does. Sadly, after I read your stupid statement, anything that came after did not have any meaning whatsoever so you must have a lot in common with Julius.
There are 800 surgeons (over 600 of whom are whites) and 2700 white chartered accountant, a dozen others with skills that are in high demand around the world (nurses, some doctors, etc). many have already left but, let us be realistic, the world is a tough place to crack if you don’t have technical skills and many (white) people have expressed that they worry about emigrating due to a possibility that they might not find employment which will enable them to live comfortably without technical skills.
@spoiler; I think Sunday Times editor Mndli Makhaya made that point more intelligently than you.
Besides, white might have lent their intellectual labour to those projects (building infrastructure etc) but the blacks are the ones who actually put brick on brick and built the many skyscrapers, hospitals and schools many people enjoy working in today. If whites know everything and blacks know nothing, what would prevent blacks from hiring out expertise from the many Germans, Russians etc who have no historical baggage and are more than happy to work in SA (even if for a short period of time). They could help draw up the plans and blacks Africans will execute them (i.e. if there were no Africans with architectural skills-which there are, though significantly fewer than whites).
Believe me, many whites want to leave but they can’t. It’s not easy out there. Sorry!
@Spoiler
Perhaps among the young, who grew up after much of the infrastructure was left to rot, e.g. due to lack of funding, wars, etc. or the ventures simply went bankrupt, e.g. the textile industries that collapsed with the likes of Salvation Army flooding west-African markets with used clothes, and among the Northerners, where there never was much industry or infrastructure.
First of all, apartheid didn’t end because white folk woke up one day and realized the depth of their destructive way.There was no conscious raising on their part, it ended simply because apartheid became socially and economically “unsustainable”, so excuse us blacks for harboring racial feelings…
The people who hold political power are overwhelmingly black, however the people who hold economical power are overwhelmingly white..If we agree that economic power pulls the most weight throughout/in the world today, it naturally follows that whites hold the larger portion of power in this country…As is simply illustrated by the fact that approx 80% of the land in country is in white hands..
So Mike, you rightly indicate that the white folk have the economic power, but that’s exactly why us black folk stand firm in our contempt of white privilege and abundance..thats exactly why whites leaving is kind of not that bad you know – I’d like the power in the country of my ancestors thank you very much!
Now, a white exodus is something white folk fear for obvious reasons, seriously where will you go? you have other home. Stop projecting that fear onto us!!We dont fear that Mike, seriously we dont..even Zim. will improve in 10 years time, countries rise and fall and it wouldn’t be any different, If all those (monopolizing)white capitalists& white supremacists left it would actually be exciting to start an inclusive country afresh, dont you think?
I interpret the recent statements of Mr Malema rather more subtly as an attempt to (1) provide an Africanist counterweight to the rising power of the left and the unions in the new ANC and (2) to capitalise on the vacuum left by the disappearance of the Mbeki Africanist clique (Mr Roberts, Ms Qunta). It’s part of the ongoing battle for the heart and soul of the movement, and a shrewd testing of the waters. However I agree that Mr Zuma needs to show thought leadership from the front and set hos own agenda rather than being dictated to by whichever of the above groups has the most influence at a point in time. The social democratic centre would provide a good place to return to.
Jody you make some valid points.
In terms of the imbalance and as part of my pre-election comment I said “vote ANC” and retain BEE and affirmative action.
They are necessary to address the very imbalances you talk about.
While the ANC has many problems – which I point out daily – they are a black government who will look after the masses before a white government as history has shown.
However where certain elite get all the plum positions and corruption reduces the effect of the above (in the tens of billions) then people have to speak up.
All of the above is on record just scroll back.
Quite a point of departure for a supremacist, racist.
That said I see white professors, doctors, sportsmen, businessmen, engineers and the like earning kudos for their new countries.
As such I am making the point that I do not want to add to that number.
I accept that I’m a populist – I support Mbeki in the Zuma era, Affirmative Action and BEE PLUS accelerated land redistribution which are very popular among whites.
But let me do one piece standing up for the whites and I’m a racist.
If I’m a racist God help us.
Genuine concerns regarding racist tendencies from some of our white counterparts always seem to elicit the same worn and weary threat: “We will leave with our civilization, skills, expertise and whatever else we, the white folks, believe we have brought this dark continent, and you folks (read africans) will be left to rape, pillage, and hopefully eventually starve to death or decimate each other for you know no better. That Bullard fellow spewed the same bile and soon had to find his UIF card. Methinks that this is typical of bullies. It is either their way of the highway. Well, you know what; time has come for us to call your bluff. Leave if you so wish. We are no longer going to be cowed into submission through hollow threats. Besides, as one of the commentators to the above article has already pointed out; white people are not a homogenious species. Some will choose to stay whilst we welcome new white folks to come in and and unite with us in building this beautiful country of ours.
The sad part is that those unreformed souls simply take their prejudices to countries such as Nigeria, Malawi, DRC etc under a misguided belief that they are indespensible, and the authorities in those countries will overlook how they illtreat locals in the quest to keep their so-called skills. I have news for anyone harbouring any such naive ideas: YOU ARE TOLD TO EITHER REFORM OR BE DEPORTED.
@ mike
agreed, this goverment is indeed corrupt, ineffectual in reducing poverty and has practically made no dent in INEQUALITY in this country…
They are trying hard to de-racialize the bourgeoisie so that capitalism can in fact be legitimized ..which of course is silly, the black bourgeoisie act no different from their white counterparts…In my opinion Malema is calling for nationalization to legitimize capitalism even more, not for the people “to share is wealth of the country”…He wants reform, not real change and is playing oN racial feelings and racial identification to spur things up a bit..
All agreed, please dont keep quite for the fear that you might be called a racist..
However the paradigm through which you view and criticize the issue is problematic:
1)Racism is a system of oppression (based on race)…In order to oppress you must have the power to oppress and to materialize your sentiments!There might be a black government, however when i walk around in my (former, but still) white suburb, from time to time the patrolling police/ADT gurads ask me ‘where do you live, the address please’…if a wallet goes missing at a house party, chances are the black dude would be suspected first..thats racism mike, no ugly name calling, just structural and institutional frameworks that OPPRESS!
2)Indicating White folk reaction to the issue will be to leave(with their skills)/separate is basically a (white) threat, thats why we wonder, what informs your thinkingmike?
Jody you can’t be serious in saying Zim would not be a bad way to go? Don’t you think a structured plan to transfer land and skills to black farmers would have been the right thing to do and would have made Zim a better place for everyone? Mugabe didn’t do that. He took out his blunt instruments to beat out the white farmer and now they can’t produce enough to feed themselves or their foreign exchange reserves, and 3 mil zimbabweans are now living a precarious existence in SA to escape the troubles at home.
Now wouldn’t it have been better to say hey, we need each other lets respect each other and work together to make this country work, not “screw you we don’t need you now piss off to Australia”?
it a pity that when you you read a comment before you can see the name you already know the colour of the commentator. I believe South Africa needs to unite and stop playing kids game and try to focus on what we have rather than fighting each other. I don’t believe that we cannot live well life without whites, whereas I don’t believe that whites stand in our way for our future.
It a fact that Europeans are racist. Look at Africa, China, America and Austria you will get what I’m talking about. Look at the history and you will see that they run for resources and go back to their countries.
Due to the fact that we have a this history which I believe hinders the good communication pattern let our leaders as Mandela and De-Clark does called the free South African without race because we are preparing our future and our generations.
SiphoM
Play the ball not the man. Issues raised by JM during the past weeks is trying to bring this country into academic jimnastic. Fellow South African, it is time to free yourself from mental imprisonment by doing self introspection.
The author and commentators above are waisting time insulting each other, beacuse of other peoples opinion.Business school has tought me never to argue with peoples opinion because you can never change it, even though they influence are day 2 day life.
I would like to invite you to our branch meeting for orientantion on the character and culture of this great movement the ANC.It is not our norm to be passive and take what ever we receive as correct, but we are trained to be assertive, inovative get involves with the day 2 day community issues.
Issues raised by JM are collectively owned by the leadership of the youth movement.As madelakhufa of the ANC,we will continue to build the organisation in all corners of the country and defend the gains achieved. JM and the leadership of the Youth League are indeed role models for the SA.
Other organisation even want to contribute in the nationalisation document to be presented to NEC of the ANC.
Don’t count JM and his leadership out of SA’s democratic debates.ANCYL is part of the force for change in SA.This is not theory,because I’m walking the talk as former student leadership at CPUT.Aluta!!!
Fellowfighter if incitement to violence, squandering of public money, insulting the elders of your party and slandering other politicians is your idea of the kind of behaviour future leaders should exhibit then I regard you with the same contempt I regard JM. He has not said one intelligent thing in his life, his followers giggle at his boorish rantings like the children that they are. JM Does not play the ball. Fellowfighter don’t be a hypocrite.