SA a banana republic: Malema

Former African National Congress Youth League president Julius Malema. File photo: Bongiwe Mchunu

Former African National Congress Youth League president Julius Malema. File photo: Bongiwe Mchunu

Published Sep 12, 2012

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Johannesburg - South Africa is a “banana republic” that does not follow the rule of law, expelled ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema said on Wednesday.

“No one is above the law, not the military, not the presidency, and not Parliament. Every court decision must be respected,” Malema told about 60 soldiers in civilian dress at the Lenasia Recreation Centre, south of Johannesburg.

“We must respect the courts, but the leadership of this banana republic disrespects the courts.”

He said government had not followed court orders in three instances.

It did not provide the Democratic Alliance the evidence in the case against President Jacob Zuma, had not delivered textbooks, and was not re-instating 1100 soldiers put on special leave for marching at the Union Buildings in 2009.

The country's confidence in its leadership needed to be rebuilt.

“Your Commander in Chief (Zuma) is engaged in other things. You are a lesser priority. All of us are a lesser priority,” Malema said.

“I don't know what is a priority to him, maybe getting married every year. He specialises on that one. Maybe that is what is going right for him.

“Here, children don't have books, people in hospitals don't have the necessary machines, they don't have roads or clean water.”

Malema repeated an earlier accusation that Zuma was a dictator.

“These are the symptoms of dictatorship, a political principle in the form of a president becoming more rich and rich, and those that he is leading becoming more poorer and poorer.”

Malema led the crowd in an alternative version of dubula ibhunu (shoot the boer) called “kiss the boer” before pointing his index finger to the sky. - Sapa

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