Buoyed by the support from Robert Mugabe’s Zanu-PF youth, Julius Malema says he has learnt mischief and “madness” from ANC elders as the ruling party admits that ill-discipline could soon be “irreversible”.
The Sunday Independent understands that organisations such as Zanu-PF youth, Chama cha Mapinduzi youth of the ruling party of Tanzania, Cuban and youth from Botswana National Front – Gaborone’s main opposition – have pledged their support to Malema after he was expelled from the ANC pending his appeal in less than two weeks.
“(Comrade), we wish u well, aluta continua. Think of paying a visit to (Tanzania) with my invitation brother, u have our full support. Young people here they (sic) sing your name,” reads an SMS from Beno Malisa, president of CCM youth.
Malema on Saturday called for the expulsion of ANC leaders who taught him bad manners.
He was speaking at a rally of the Limpopo ANC Women’s League, which openly pledged its support and organised a cake for his 31st birthday in his hometown of Polokwane.
He indirectly likened the ANC’s decision to expel him to a parent who badly influences their child and then discards them.
“Even if this child is mad, he is your child, it basically means they learnt this madness from you,” Malema said in Sepedi.
“All we are doing, we have learnt from our elders.
“If there are people who should be expelled, it’s our elders,” Malema continued.
The controversial youth leader – who once vowed to die and kill for Zuma – had a bitter fallout with the president who used to defend his rude and bullying behaviour.
But Malema said he has accepted his expulsion, and that unlike former ANC leaders such Mbhazima Shilowa and Mosiuoa Lekota – who left the party to form Cope – he remained a member of the ANC.
He pinned his hopes on the upcoming ANC elective conference in Mangaung in December.
“Even if Mangaung does not liberate us, the future generation of the ANC will liberate us, because whether you like it or not, one day you will go on pension,” said Malema in what could be construed as a reference to Zuma.
But Malema avoided mentioning any names.
However, he changed his tone and sounded like a desperate man begging to be accepted back into the ANC fold.
“If we made a mistake, then discipline us, don’t kill, don’t throw us in the dustbin,” he said.
Malema said he was prepared to relinquish his position as youth leader, in order to keep his membership “because I love the ANC, I worship the ANC, there is nothing I know besides the ANC”.
The provincial women’s league pledged to stand by Malema, singing his praises in slogans.
“Kae kapa kae, Malema re ya le wena (Wherever you go, Malema we are with you),” they chanted.
His friend and ally, Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula, intimated a fierce fight on Friday that Malema’s expulsion was “unprecedented” and “a political tragedy”.
“I characterise this as a political tragedy for all of us who come from the ranks of the youth league. Julius and his generation have actually suffered a blow that we did not come to realise or test,” Mbalula told the SABC tv news.
Malema wants Mbalula to replace Gwede Mantashe as party secretary-general.
Some youth league leaders from seven provinces have declared their support for Malema.
However, the league is not homogeneous. There are factional divisions within its structures.
The league’s North West chairperson Papiki Baboile said on Saturday: “If between now and Mangaung the leadership of the ANC doesn’t review the expulsion, then we will plead with the branches of the ANC to review the expulsion.”
“We still affirm him as our president. We will continue to invite him to lectures,” he said.
Northern Cape provincial league secretary Shadrack Tlhaole said “it is Julius or nothing”.
“If people want their friends to lead the youth league, then they must fire all of us,” said Tlhaole.
“We must be engaged politically. This is a political matter. The ANC must make peace that they need to meet us and explain to us the wrong things they say Julius did.
“He never went to the streets calling people prostitutes,” Tlhaole told The Sunday Independent.
Malema’s friend and Limpopo league secretary Jacob Lebogo said the expelled youth leader “remains president until 2014”, the end of his term.
“He remains our leader. We are still waiting for the leadership of the ANC to engage us.
“Anybody who has got a problem with the way the youth league articulates its position, they must engage us,” Lebogo said, adding that “these charges against Julius are personal. He was representing us.”
Eastern Cape league secretary Mziwonke Ndabeni said the decision was punitive and not meant “to build”.
The league is expected to hold an emergency meeting of its national executive committee – the highest decision-making body between conferences – to discuss and take a stance on his expulsion.
Meanwhile, the ANC – in its discussions documents ahead of policy conference in June – has admitted that ill-discipline would soon reach a consequential climax.
“We have not succeeded in effectively dealing with factionalism and ill-discipline.
“Mangaung must be (the) turning point, because unless we halt the decay, we will soon reach a stage where it becomes irreversible.”
The party said its relationship with its youth wing needed examination, given the controversial dispute regarding the autonomy of the league.
“The matter should be debated openly, since the league is too important an organ to leave to chance.” - Sunday Independent