“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.
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81 Responses to “JZ must take hard line against Malema”
Thanks you Michael, at last. I gave waited many months for an article of this caliber. My rantings fell on deaf ears - now the public may sit up and realise that this issue needs to be discussed calmly and continuously.
Let us attack the issue people, not the writers.
Until we get past the slanging, the country will sink deeper into the quagmire of colour.
Oh Gosh, i had always suspected that behind that seemingly patriotic face of yours there is some element of white supremacy.
So you seriously think that if whites were to leave, then our country would collapse? get over yourself Trapido
Am no ANC syphathizer, but Malema has been so accurate lately. so you can go join your buddy in Canada as well.
By the way, i have yet to encounter any black racists, and am of the firm view that no such exist. Rather we have blacks who react to the racism imposed onto them. that does not make them racists, but rather racism reactionaries.
Maybe Zuma should explain to Ju-Ju how it works in the real world. Explain to him who pays the taxes in the land, and if he aspires to the same BMW’s as the top guys, he better start showing a little respect to his elders.
LubabaloN. So Malema is right is he????? And we whites should leave???? Ummmm, you are as big a racist as Malema. The fact that neither of you are intelligent enough to debate the facts and have to hide behind the race card is to your detriment. You and Malema have very big chips on your shoulders that is weighing you down. Neither one of you is big or strong enough to handle that chip so just ditch it!!!!!!! The only disagreement I have with the author is that he forgot to mention the “racist” attacks on Africans from up North that is called xenophobia!!!!! And Zuma has been just as quiet about that. Fortunately I know many black, white, coloured, Indians (South Africans) that think the same as the author and the likes of Malema and LubabaloN are in the minority.
Writers and commentators like you constantly equate black people with as incompetent, unskilled and corrupt. Even Helen Zille got away with saying that there were no capable black people in the Western Cape to be part of her cabinet.
I have yet to read articles from you with the same frequency condemning the actions of the Reitz students, judges who likening people to baboons, Zapiro depicting Vavi, Malema et al as gang rapists etc.
You are proving your ‘white messiah’ complex by advocating that “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”
People have been coming and going to South Africa since 1652 at their pleasure and life continues under the African sun without any apocalyptic consequences and messianic visions materialising.
LubabaloN - its not rocket science - the tax base has a big whitey contribution to it that will be dented if they continue to be made to feel like unwanted foreigners. Your snide “white supremist” jibe is a case in point. The populist jive is easy, but if you care at all about longer term poverty aleviation please apply a bit more thought.
It’s not Malema people should be worried about, it’s his seething mass of acolytes who hold views considerably less informed and moderate than his own.
@LubabaloN - We need to get past this notion that some can be racist and others can’t. Truth is, every race can be racist. Anyone who does not believe this is deluding themselves…. I’ve seen comments on other blogs that refer to whites as ‘pale pigs’ and ‘white scum’ (of course loads of others going the other way, but in my mind that is not up for debate). If that’s not racist then I must live in some bizarre parallel universe.
To be fair, seperatism is starting to become more mainstream by the day. 5 years ago, nobody even considered this as an option, and now it’s a conversation topic at many a braai or dinner table. As it was put to me by a less liberal colleague - “if it becomes a matter of survival, what choice do we have?”. Some whites are seriously feeling that their very survival is at stake these days. Thanks Julius, Winnie et al.
@ LubabaloN; my friend South Africa would struggle without the white tribe. This as a result of the fact that the taxes are only paid by perhaps 10 million citizens. If you halved that (remove the white tribe) then SA tax income is halved. Seeing as we struggle to cover all the theft and mismanagment with our current bumper tax windfalls, it’s unlikely that halving the revenue will help SA.
Triston Jacobsohn on November 24th, 2009 at 7:10 am
Traps, Malema does Zuma/ANC’s bidding so of course he will not be slapped on the wrist.
LubabaloN, what hole do you hide in, every group has racists in their midst, to deny it is stupid and altimately dangerous. On economies going downward, check out how good Zim’s is faring since clearing out its whites.
Whites did not embrace reconciliation back in 1994.In fact,they simply laughed at us.Now that we are also throwing reconciliation out of the window,you cry foul.If you want to leave,JUST LEAVE.If you think you will establish a volkstaat in SA,Well,just leave before you even think of it because you will regret.Julius Malema will be president in a decade or two.Then you will toe the line.
Trapps, you are one of the guilty ones. You give Malema media space by paying attention to all his lunatic ranting. If you and the rest of the media stopped responding to him, then he is bound to keep quite!
I think it would be fool hardy to say there are no black racists. Suggesting that black racism is just a reaction because of white or any other racism seems like a cop-out to me and an excuse to avoid being judged by the same standards as all South Africans, which was what Trapido I think was touching on. While I don’t agree with the assertion that a white exodus would leave the economy in ruins, we need all South Africans, people of all colours, to pull in the same direction otherwise we are destined for failure.
LubabaloN: You’ve never encountered a black racist? Wow, you are sheltered and naiive. I wonder what your definition of racist is? “White, male, drives a bakkie, answers to Koos…” Ninjas tuning you - use da interwebz, the definition is out there bra!!
Trapido did well at highlighting a key issue in SA: African’s unwillingness to acknowledge they too may be culprits of racism. I must give you credit though, you finished the job beautifully - hahaha! You’re a chop deluxe and you don’t even realize it, dood.
Africans must acknowledge their fallibility and be vigilant against it, racism isn’t a white thing - we’re all human and capable of racism! Being blind to that, for whatever rhetoric, is just dof - seriously. Those who refuse to acknowledge this are either protecting their own interests or, you guessed it, chops! Awe!
There is something that people complaining about Malema’s latest rantings that sound opportunistic and one sided.
Malema was elected to the ANCYL on the basis of his ability to insult those he disagree with. For proof go look ar his interaction with the former SACP and ANC chairperson in Limpopo - the former Premier Mr Sello Moloto. At the time when Mr Malema was waging the war against Mr Moloto neither the YCL nor the SACP came to mr Moloto’s defence.
What Mr Cronin and the latest ‘victims’ of Mr Malema’s tirade must accept is that Julius Malema is just being himself - abusive to those on his wrong side. Also ask Mr Ruben Mohlaloga, the list is endless.
LubabaloN - You need a serious reality check. I’m a professional with 30 years experience in my field. Of the hundreds of professionals in my field that I have met, I have perhaps met 5-10 competent black professionals.
I cannot speak for other industries, but I am sure that in most fields with a scientific bias you will find your deluded measure of competence is inadequate.
Mr.LubaboloN,
The truth hurts. Facts speak for themselves. History has a way of repeating itself. The pattern for Africa has been constant.
The once terrorist/freedom fighter becomes the legitimate government. All government officials and civil service positions go to loyal party members – sycophants and nepotism rules. Winner takes all. Corruption becomes endemic. It starts at the top and filters down. The ruling party prioritises expenditure – reequip the armed forces even though ‘the war’ is won and there is no obvious enemy! Luxury Cars, private jets, five-star travel to exotic destinations to attend meaningless conferences are the order of the day.
But! As the tax base diminishes, because lack of equal opportunity, corruption and escalating crime drives productive people away the answer is: Cut back on maintenance – reduce expenditure on hospitals, schools, libraries, roads, electricity, water services and more. Zimbabwe sets the standard.
However, this cannot happen in South Africa because we have an eloquent President leading by example setting the highest possible moral standards. We have a united government committed to eliminating corruption at all levels and reducing unnecessary expenditure. Cabinet Ministers, senior officials and ruling party associations go out of their way to unite the Rainbow Nation and punish those who utter racial comments.
So there is no need for President Zuma to restrain anyone. It’s all a storm in a teacup. South Africa could never sink to the levels of our neighbours and even if we did – so what! The people in power will be
No Zapiro, the difference is that these are prominent blacks that are reported on, try being black in real life as an unknown in this South Africa broer.
It’s only been 15 or so years and you allready complianing, try centuries of being ridiculed, called names and being a servient.
@ Traps
It’s unfortunate that your intervention in the debate or sorry “insult” is selective. Did you read the part where Jeremmy said Malema’s obsession with nationalisation of mines is about bling or sorry jewellery. It seems you share the same sentiment since you pretend it was never said. I think white people are individuals who after weighing their personal circumstance in South Africa will decide to stay or emigrate. No call from Traps however desperate will make people sacrifice fruits of their hard work for racial solidarity.It’s regrettable you believe in freedom of speech as long as it is not extended to Malema.
It is ok for Cronin to say Malema thinks of Bling when he talk of Nationalising mines but it’s not right for Malema to tell Cronin that he does not need him to think. What Cronin is saying is exactly what a lot of White people think about blacks in this country, that we can think of anything but to get hold of the high life.
These Mandela nonsense of a rainbow nation is just misplaced, how can you have people who grew up being taught that blacks are sub-human change overnight and see them as equal. The white man in this Country still needs to be taught that a blackman is as good as they are and if they don’t want to accept that i think Canada will be a better place for them.
Believe me on this one, this country will survive without white people and i’m sure it will prosper much faster. They are the ones who stop young graduates from growing in companies, treating them like they did not go to the same University they went to.
Cronin must just accept that Malama is having an a point but it is just that this will benefit blacks and not whites only!!!!!!!!!
“The ANC is a multi class organisation and they are fighting to influence the party and we have no problem with that, but we also have a duty to protect the ANC…They (SACP) are fighting to turn the ANC into a communist party and as a youth league we have a duty to defend the ANC and what it stands for.
I do not qualify to be a racist, I’m incapable of being racist” said Malema (Sowetan)
Now, Traps, tell us, what should president Zuma do in that? Surely Malema is talking some sense there. Should he censor him?
Traps
Your article was rather short, left many more questions than suggestions to help heal wounds of centuries, first your dictionary i quote Dictionary — “Racism : noun ; discriminatory or abusive behaviour towards members of another race”.
is it now ok to insult without mentioning race, had Malema said messiah without mentioning white he would get away with it,
let me put a phrase that usually gets people talking “black people are incapable of being racist as the origins of this evil suggest everywhere in world whites oppressed non whites until sanity prevails. question now comes is Malema Capable of being racist considering that he was recting to what was said by the white guy and that when Malema talked of Nationalising mines he reffered to blacks who own mines and are themselves black and they are followers of the anc.
your heading mentions zuma and you do not refer much to Zuma.
Mda did not insult whites at large, it was directed to one individual staright in her face as a reaction to what was done or said. like i said blacks reacting.
The one of Malema and Cronin was not racial, just anc and sacp battle lines.
All countries need a source of income in order for their governments to provide essential services to the citizens. Government is dependent upon the revenue from income tax paid in by tax payers for the money that pays for the existence of the Government itself. Tax money pays for the social and child welfare grants and pensions that so many of our people depend upon for their basic needs.
Without a large tax base (total number of taxpayers in the country), the country will collapse. To see the truth of that look at the huge number of government corruption cases that come to light each day. Tax money–the government’s major source of revenue– is being mis-spent, used for personal enrichment by corrupt and incompetent government ‘deployees’ and their families. Thousands of taxpayers leave the country each year because they are tired of having their taxes support corrupt officials at every level of government.
Julius Malema and his sympathisers are either ignorant of the consequences of further alienating the tax payers or they don’t care. They think ‘nationalising’ everything will solve the problem. IF–as is true of the Scandinavian countries– there were enough SA-can government employees who are BOTH COMPETENT AND COMMITTED TO DOING THEIR JOBS, nationalising everything might have an outside chance of working. Instead, SA Telkom, Eskom, Transnet, SABC, etc. result from lack of both!
Polarising blacks and whites a la Comrade Julius is a recipe for disaster. Taxes don’t just selfcreate.
and everybody keeps on perpetuating the stereoypes that we all claim to be against, namely blacks are incompetent, whites are racist, only whites contribute to the tax coffers of the treasury, blacks are thieves, etc…
so what makes all of you better than Julius. Is it because Julius cannot argue his racism as eloquently as you?
Damn! Why does everything always deteriorate into racial mudslinging?
Traps has a point of view, which he put very politely. Plenty of people agree with it. At least he’s not out there inciting mobs or shouting the odds on the evening news. (For which I totally blame the media; they could learn a bit of couth and give equal time to all sides.)
If you disagree with Traps, that’s fine. But how about learning to do so just as politely as he?
The fact is, the racial slurs that are being bandied about are against the constitution and people who do it deserve to find themselves facing prosecution. I would be delighted to see anyone who behaves so badly taken to court and task for it, whatever their race.
Perhaps Traps is the very person to explain the implications of opening a case at the local police station. The SAPS must surely follow up (are they constitutionally obliged?) and not all those that are publicly slurred can afford to go the lawyer route. Just as not all white people want, or can afford to leave the country. We are, after all, not all as rich as many think!
While I accept that the apartheid government and Mugabe are not great as role models, they are not the only governments around to use for that purpose!
What you fail to understand, Mr Trapido, is that the perceived presence of racism in Malema’s actions is a result of the REAL racism that black South Africans have suffered - and still suffer - at the hands of white South Africans.
In an article published by the Times Live a few days ago - about an incompetent mayor in the Eastern Cape - the majority of white (at least that’s what I think they were judging by their racist comments) bloggers likened the image of the obviously incompetent mayor to that of a maid. The belief among whites is that our black women cannot be entrusted with any responsibility. Somehow, people like you who profess to be all for a non-racist society allow bloggers to throw flippant remarks about blacks around. But when a “Malema” makes an equally racist comment you cry racism.
Malema is a necessary evil in this racist society; he always manages to articulate what the black apologists, Uncle Toms and Aunt Jemimas fear to convey. Besides, you and Malema seem to have a lot in common, judging by your supremacist comments alluding to your race being the economic cornerstone of this country. The only difference is that racists like you can only spew their bile on fringe blogs like Thought Leader and not SABC or eTV. Surely, that needs to change. Maybe Mr Zuma should give you an equally prominent platform to teach us about the good white man.
I find it fascinating that in every thing that some of our black fellow South African do they are not accountable for their actions - is not racist but a reaction to racism????? Makes me think of George Orwell’s Animal farm to quote; “all animals are equal, just some are more equal than others”.
Why is it that world wide one gets, the black this and the black that i.e. black music awards in the USA and here in SA The Black Management Forum, The Black Lawyers Ass etc. I bet if there was a white Management Forum they would cry out racism. I am so fed up with the double standards applied. Irrespective of the colour, when you start excluding others you are an out and out racist and no different from the apartheid era.
I almost agreed with you Trapido, because I thought that malema was being racist and had sunk lower than I ever thought he could possibly sink. I was heartened by the fact that the Young Communist League stood up against hima nd called a spade a spade. But your suggestion that blacks are incompetent is RACIST in the extreme! You have now shown your true colors and I think many people were willing to give you the benefit of the doubt- that you were atleast a ‘liberal’, now you seem quite the ‘conservative’ after all.
You are also incorrect in suggesting that whites are being discriminated against MORE than blacks.
Malema is the cancer that need to be removed from the South African political landscape- he simply has to be sacked. Sadly, many are prifiting from his diatribes; the media make a lot of money by giving him undue attention, others find him amusing until he attacks people in the same group they perceive themselves as being a part of etc.
You cannot fight racism with racism.
This betrays your immaturity and lack of principle.
Who came with this ideology of Black or White isn’t whites?. Leave Malema alone and I think JZ is got better things to worry about.
By nationalizing of resources he might have a point if you may consider our security of supply for our future generations. Remember we’re talking about non-renewable resources here.
You want blacks to be seen as equal to whites and whites to be seen as equal to blacks. People, no matter their race, prove their abilities by what they have done, not by what they say they do, or say they are going to do. So do the right things and create a better future for your children and grand-children. Unfortunately the Zimbabwe experience is the opposite to date. Surely South Africa can learn from history and do better?
The way South Africans deal with race issues shows that our country is becoming like Zimbabwe wherein Holigans such as malema use politics to fuel racial hatred. Malema stupidity undermines good efforts made for the country so far by both Blacks and Whites.
I am sure our political landscape would be far smoother and a lot more would be achieved if the racial invective was left out of political discourse. Maybe Julius thinks isnt a racist - but he acts like one at times. Is his behaviour excusable because of this countries political history? Some people seem to think it is and he plays to his audience.
In Canada in 2007, French President de Gaulle proclaimed, vive Quebec libre, meaning, long live a free Quebec. Within a few years the next provincial election brought to power a separatists government, which although it never succeeded in seceding from Canada, nevertheless drove the English and their large businesses out of Quebec in droves. It is now 2009, 30 years later. Economically, Quebec never recovered and still retains the greatest number of poor of any of the Canadian provinces. That’s what happens when capital leaves.
Canada’s other provinces to this day must continually gift support to Quebec to keep them in Confederation.
Calling black people and Africans nogal, racist is a joke. Its even very rich and hilarious coming from racists. Discrimination on the basis of race has always been as it is still today based on misguided perceptions of white supremacy. Africans are not suffering from the delusion of “african” supremacy but from time immemorial strive to have human relations based on ubuntu “umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu. Sad part is that white supremacists almost all the time don’t realise that they are racists. The march towards a nonracial, nonsexist, democratic and prosperous SA is gathering momentum by the day. The overwhelming majority of SA both black and white,are inspired by all those patriots who struggled and suffered for this vision.
Sydney Balooi (safm) often interviews high profile personalities who lived through apartheid as ADULTS - Joe Mafela, John Khani, an elderly Bishop who heads up the Food Bank, George Bizos to name but a few. It’s humbling and a privilege peeking into the simple lives of these gracious people who have emerged from “hell” untouched by hatred. Black people were angry enough to rise up in revolt - and win! Cruel assault against their dignity, person & property led to justified, disciplined, action which brought to its knees the mighty, oppressive apartheid regime. Yet the tone from these great people drifting over the airwaves is wise and gentle – even healing - and the dialogue constructive. On the other hand the tone, dripping with hatred and malicious bigotry that too often gushes from Melema / Mbalula / Malamela / Blade Nzimandi and others is terrifying! Utterances are often illogical, irresponsible, inflammatory and dangerous, particularly from the first three. These are OUR LEADERS who should be at the forefront of reconciliation, healing and nation building. How the men and women on the ground are behaving should not be material to how our leaders behave. LEADERS HAVE A HIGHER CALING to integrity, decency and fair judgement. The hatred, racism and bigotry that characterized the apartheid regime were what precipitated its destruction by creating a rich, fertile environment for decent human beings to rise up and destroy it. No good can come of negative, destructive, hatred based leadership. “Hate is like taking poison and waiting for the person to die.”
Cronin was talking about the new ANC’s materialism, he did not mention Julius’s race at all, and considering Cronin’s credentials you could not really accuse him of being racist. As usual however Julius could not restrain himself and resorted to bringing the colour of Cronin’s skin into it. If you don’t think that’s racist, then you don’t understand racism and you don’t know what the ANC and co fought for the whole 20th century. If the black youth think like Malema we should be very, very afraid of SA’s future.
Blacks and Whites were born equal, at least in Zimbabwe. But when Mugabe tried to make us what we really are not - commercial farmers - he drove our country into the abyss of abject poverty. So take it from me, folks, I live with racists in Zimbabwe [ZANU-PF] and if Ju-Ju is left to frolic in uncontrolled racial orbit, you will be importing food from Malawi by 2020. Clip his wings before he poisons serious MK war veterans to ACTUALLY believe whites are a bad bunch. I wonder whether Ju-Ju will ONLY watch black teams in the FIFA 2010 world cup - [perhaps, Thiery Henry is coming]. I grew up in Rhodesia but studied & worked in Zimbabwe. These are two different worlds - the first, racist, violent and rich. The second, racist, violent and poor. Are they different?!
Alan in Botswana on November 24th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Nice one Traps - I agree. JZ should censor Malema. If Juliass has a proper argument, and logically puts forward a debate, not a problem, let the man speak. But we all know he never does. His only weapon of attack is a brutish inflammatory put-down, not unlike any that occur on a daily basis on primary school playgrounds across the country. I still haven’t heard Juliass put forward a logical argument for nationalising the mines, his arguments are always puddle deep.
Trapido i have always enjoyed your articles but my white brother you really blundered on this one.To have a superiority complex of saying everything will come to a standstill because of whites leaving is an insult to us blacks.I am disappointed in you.You know what i think all whites are the same
While we have the likes of LubabaloN in this country we can only go backwards.
Once again the sheep mentality is showing.
For crying in a bucket….THINK!!!
Judging by the responses to my earlier posting, it has become so clearer that we need a Human Consciousness Movement along the lines of the Black Consciousness Movement of the 1970s. You guys are still so fixated on the notion of supremacy that your parents inculcated onto you, which makes you inherently unable to see the forest is made of trees.
So you clever people of God, can you point to one thing wrong that Malema said in his response to the condescending article by Cronin? I bet you cannot, but like well conditioned farm sheep, you just cry foul whenever Malema opens his mouth.
Since you are such a bedrock of our socio-economic life, why don’t you just leave the land and let the ‘natives’ eat each other to extinction. Your sense of supremacy makes you so deluded and it is so divorced from the realities of present day South Africa.
it’s worrying that most response decide to attack LubabaloN on his/her views on Julius statements, and actually falling on the same line of thought of the same person all seem to despise. the fact of the matter what J said was and si still out of line hence the YCL demands to have a discussion with ANCYL on the matter. if then people feels they are so much fualted by Malema and start to throw tentrums and wish that this country will go down the drain those i must say they are not just dillusional but needs help and might as well leave the country if they feel the need.it is absurd to think that there are poeple who continue to behave and think they are and have absolute power and might over the other and when they feel scorned they threaten of having a volstaad or leave the country. humbley for all of those who continue to believe since the krokodile left office this country is doomed to be any thing like our neighbouring countries whom we had a hand in their demise may so just leave. what malema said i’m saying again has no excuse and was outright uncalled for.
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.
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.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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By trade a criminal attorney he is now a politcal commentator and journalist full time.
"Traps Report" on the Richmark Sentinel is probably the largest news aggregator in the world. That includes Google, Huffington Post and Drudge.
If you click on the links of the Traps Report you should be up to date on all the latest news worldwide as well as local.
He is a director of the firm Turnbull and Associates.
He was born in Johannesburg and attended HA Jack and Highlands North High Schools. He married Robyn in 1984 (Mrs Traps, aka "the government") and has three sons (who all look suspiciously like her ex-boss).
He was a counsellor on the JCCI for a year around 1992.
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Thanks you Michael, at last. I gave waited many months for an article of this caliber. My rantings fell on deaf ears - now the public may sit up and realise that this issue needs to be discussed calmly and continuously.
Let us attack the issue people, not the writers.
Until we get past the slanging, the country will sink deeper into the quagmire of colour.
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