I will die in the ANC - Malema

(File photo) ANCYL leader Julius Malema. Photo: Bongiwe Mchunu

(File photo) ANCYL leader Julius Malema. Photo: Bongiwe Mchunu

Published May 14, 2012

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Julius Malema will never start his own political party despite being kicked out of the ANC, the expelled ANC Youth League president said in Johannesburg on Monday.

“It has never crossed my mind. I will never do that,” Malema said at his first press conference following his ousting last month by the party's national disciplinary appeals committee.

“My blood is black, green and gold. I will die in the ANC. I will stay and sleep here, outside the gate of the ANC. My umbilical cord was buried here in the ANC,” he said, wearing an white ANC open necked shirt and a mini-beret.

“This is my home and nobody is going to chase me away from my home. Even if I am pushed by my parent who refuses to take responsibility.”

He denied calling President Jacob Zuma a dictator, saying he was discussing leadership styles in the party, and was not criticising Zuma as an individual.

Instead, the media had escalated his comments until they found their way onto his disciplinary charge sheet.

“I was analysing leadership styles in the ANC since 1912,” said Malema.

“I said there were issues handled in a manner not so democratic. So I was not declaring an individual as a dictator but I was actually analysing the present material condition in the African National Congress.”

He continued: “But... people played the man instead of the ball. Evaluating does not only mean I must only speak good about you... and then I got a letter... summarily suspended.”

Malema accused the ANC leadership of taking decisions based on editorial comments, saying “five or six” charges against him were based on what newspapers had written.

But on studying video footage, three were withdrawn and he was expelled on the grounds of two charges.

“That's the logic of discipline in the ANC.”

Malema denied receiving any money from businessman and Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale.

“I have not received his money, Tokyo. If he had given me I would not be ashamed. I would not be receiving money with blood...But I will not refuse money.”

If Sexwale offered him money to pay his gardener he would take it.

“Let me tell you I have survived on handouts,” he said, speaking of his days with the Congress of SA Students.

He would not discuss reports that he owed the taxman R10 million, considering this private.

Malema was flanked by suspended secretary general Sindiso Magaqa and spokesman Floyd Shivambu.

During introductions, Shivambu introduced them all by their youth league titles.

The three were sanctioned because they were found to have violated ANC rules of conduct over comments on Botswana, on Zuma and language directed at a journalist. - Sapa

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