African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL)
The ANC leadership lets the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) freely attack targets with gusto and without care for facts, thereby letting off political steam. A long string of ANC Youth League Presidents have won notoriety for making outrageous statements; viz mid-'90s League President Peter Mokaba's frequent use of the slogan "kill the Boer/kill the farmer," at the very time when Nelson Mandela was campaigning for reconciliation and peace. Having someone saying such things might even serve as something of a safety valve by making disgruntled youth feel that their anger was being heard by the ANC's senior leaders. But as a generation which does not remember the struggle against apartheid comes to adulthood, they may be less content to accept mere rhetoric to express their anger at what they may see as continuing inequality.
There is a populist, right-wing element in the ANC that includes people such as African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) President Julius Malema. This grouping is Africanist in nature and believes in militant populism -- and they are loud and crude. The ascendancy of African National Congress (ANC) leaders such as Julius Malema, routinely described as "uneducated" and "unpolished" by South Africans across the socio-economic spectrum is raising questions about the future of the ruling party as a place of ideas.
Julius Malema was appointed ANCYL President on April 6, 2008 by Youth League delegates and later endorsed by the ANC after disputes about whether his election in Manguang Bloemfontein were declared invalid. Many in the ANC still question whether Malema legitimately won the vote, instead believing the ANC rubber stamped former ANCYL President Fikili Mbaula's decision to anoint Malema for his unwavering support to Zuma.
Remarks by ANC Youth League (African National Congress) President Julius Malema were interpreted by some as a "direct threat to the proper administration of justice and to judicial independence." Malema stated 16 June 2008 during a Youth Day rally, "We are prepared to die for Zuma. We are prepared to take up arms and kill for Zuma." In the face of his highly inciting comments, Malema refused to recall his statements or to apologize. In the following days there was virulent condemnation of Malema's remarks from the South African Human Rights Council, youth political organizations, the political elite and Nobel Prize laureate Bishop Tutu. In 2009 Malema criticized the Zuma government for appointing minorities to economic positions in the administration and blacks to security positions. He noted, "When people enter a debate, they should resist labeling others as African chauvinists or racists ... It means you are a fake ... There is a small group of elites in the alliance who present themselves as working class leaders, while there is very little to show that in everything they do." He was the most vocal member of the ruling party during the ANC's 2009 national election campaign.
On 20 October 2009, the ANCYL President told reporters that South Africa would nationalize the country's mines for extra revenue. He said, "The nationalization of the mines will happen, the Freedom Charter says that." He then added, "We want the ANC in conference in 2012 to pronounce what is the stand of the ANC on the nationalization of mines ... we need decisive leadership, we don't want cowards." ANC Treasurer Mathews Phosa, who is often the voice of reason countering Malema's statements, told British businesses in early November that the South African Government would not nationalize the mines.
Malema is prominent in the news is because the public is fascinated by him and his outlandish statements, which sell newspapers and draw listeners. Malema speaks for many working class and poor South Africans and that the Zuma government effectively used Malema to address difficult issues which would be difficult to tackle without alienating core supporters. Malema is extremely ambitious and wants to advance in ANC structures. Zuma's only comment regarding these issues may have been when he declared publicly on 26 October 2009 that Malema is a "good leader worthy of inheriting the ANC."
On 01 March 2012 South Africa's ruling party expelled its embattled youth leader, Julius Malema, after senior leaders ruled he has not shown remorse for sowing division within its ranks. A disciplinary panel of the African National Congress said late Wednesday that Malema, president of the party's powerful Youth League, was guilty of repeatedly bringing the ANC into disrepute. The ANC's National Disciplinary Committee suspended Malema for being disrespectful to the President Jacob Zuma, the current leader of the ANC.
He had not stopped campaigning for himself, however, and was outspoken in his view of what South Africa needs. Malema, who is known for fiery rhetoric, has stirred controversy in recent years for several remarks — including endorsing the policies of Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, insulting a BBC journalist and repeatedly singing a song that includes the words “Kill the Boer.” Boer is a term for a white South African farmer. He re-entered the headlines by encouraging miners to go on strike. South Africa has seen a wave of strikes and unrest in the mining sector since early August. In the worst incident of violence, police fired on strikers outside the Lonmin platinum mine on August 16, killing 34 people.
On September 26, 2012 South Africa's firebrand ex-youth leader Julius Malema was been charged with money laundering, which he said is a political move by his nemesis, President Jacob Zuma. He denied the charge and vowed to continue his quest to speak to South Africans who support him. Malema was charged in connection with a $6.5 million government contract awarded to a company partially owned by his family trust. Malema embarrassed the government with what he said in those speeches at the Marikana strike, in front of the strikers, the suspicions do arise that maybe there was some political pressure to prosecute him or there was some coaching from political sources that it wouldn’t be frowned upon if they prosecuted him, unlike other people who have not been prosecuted despite the fact of having serious accusations of corruption made against them.
The 31-year-old’s political career was littered with controversy and legal problems - and he has answered all of it with characteristic bravado.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
