By Ainsley Daniels
ANC Youth League president Julius Malema has been fined R10 000 after he pleaded guilty late on Tuesday to one of the four disciplinary charges against him, with the other three charges being dropped against him.
IOL asked its readers: "Is Julius Malema's punishment a slap on the wrist?"
Of the 1 436 people who participated in the poll; 90 percent (1 288 votes) said "Yes" and 10 percent (148 votes) said "No"
Here are some of the comments:
Peterh
Did anyone actually think that young Julius would receive anything other than a slap on the wrist? Does anyone really believe this will silence him? The ANC claim this was a severe reprimand - look! they say, should the fellow step out off line again it will have very serious consequences for the lad. What would he have to do to warrant that, I wonder?
Kevin
Slap on the wrist for destroying the reconciliation process. Not to mention what Malema did as far as destroying tourism, economy etc .... It is an absolute disgrace that he is allowed to get away with what he did. No confidence left for this so called rainbow nation. He is a monster with evil power.!
Duncan
A spineless response from a cowardly and corrupt party. Does anyone remeber Matthews Phosa's "business empire" by the way? The one that collapsed amidst recriminations about mishandling of funds - I think it was a chain of hardware stores. Perhaps he's hoping for a handout when JM dishes out the mines?
Julius
Let's see! Ignore the really difficult charges such as singing, swearing and cast them aside. Then fine a millionaire who lives on a golf estate and owns several luxury cars ten grand. Wow! What's he going to do for pocket money next week? Inept. Cowardly. Politically correct and confirmation that the governing party can't rule properly even in their own ranks. Then again isn't this what we all expected all along?
Brindley
He, Julius is not being held fully accountable for his actions. It seems that he is once again being "protected" by the ANC.The ANC needs to substantiate why the other charges were dropped and for consistency need to show if in the past another party member who was charged and convicted of an identical charge - what was his / her "penalty" . The ANC is in power yes, but they need to realise that whatever "credibility" they have is / is being eroded by keeping a man like Julius Malema head of the ANCYL
Godfrey
Slap on the wrist..more like ten lashes with a cooked spagetti! Please let me be a prophet for a moment. The ANC, and more importantly all South Africans, will one day live to regret the lenient and cowardly way that the ANC heirarchy have dealt with this hoodlum. Today's news report that the political school that he is to be taught at is headed by Tony Yengeni is bizarre. Surely King of Bling Yengeni is SA's leading example of what a politician must not be.
Rob Russell
I think this is absolutely disgraceful and is an indication that the ANC hierarchy are afraid of something and/or hidng something that Malema knows. Malema's behaviour in general is an absolute disgrace and an embarassment to the country as a whole, never mind just to JZ and the ANC. He needs to apologise to the country as a whole, and sent to a "reputable school" to learn how to behave as a public figure and leader, not to a Yengeni School of "whatever"
Max Weber
From this internal ruling, we can conclude that South Africa is now officially a caste system - and we have a class of untouchables in our midst permitted to do anything, even illegal things. Just don't insult the top dog upon whom your position depends. I hope that the ANCYL also attends the anger management classes with Mr Julius, and go on the same leadership classes. If they insist on sharing the punishment by paying the 10k fine, then the rest of the punishment package should also be shared. Maybe then we will have considerate leaders rather than the Lewd Crew we have now.