Malema: Cyril a guard of white capital

17/07/2014. Economic Freedom Fighters commander in chief delivers the party's one year annivesary lecture at the University of Limpopo's Medunsa campus. Picture: Oupa Mokoena

17/07/2014. Economic Freedom Fighters commander in chief delivers the party's one year annivesary lecture at the University of Limpopo's Medunsa campus. Picture: Oupa Mokoena

Published Jul 18, 2014

Share

Pretoria - Economic Freedom Fighters commander-in-chief Julius Malema on Thursday attacked deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa and accused him of being an “economic security guard”.

Speaking on the party’s first anniversary at the University of Limpopo’s Medunsa campus in Ga-Rankuwa, Malema said: “There is no real BEE (black economic empowerment) policy in the country. It was just a system designed by white men to protect their capital.”

He accused Ramaphosa and mining magnate Patrice Motsepe of defending white capital, instead of helping black people.

“Look at what happened at Marikana. A black man had to come and defend white capital. A black economic security guard had to rise and say ‘these people are tampering with the mlungu’s wealth, attack them’,” Malema told the packed hall.

He said if Ramaphosa was really rich, he would help develop black communities. “If he is so rich, why not give the people of Venda water? I made quotations and a borehole of 10 000 litres costs R60 000.

“Imagine if Cyril donates R1 million, how many boreholes can be sunk in the villages? The same thing with Patrice Motsepe.”

But Malema had only nice words about late President Nelson Mandela. “Madiba was ready to kill for this country. We have to follow in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela. He serves as an inspiration.”

Malema said the Struggle continues because Madiba knew we did not attain economic power.

“We have taken the baton, this is the Struggle of Nelson Mandela, OR Tambo, Solomon Mahlangu and Chris Hani. We are inspired by a generation before us.”

The EFF was formed because the ruling party had forgotten why it was elected, Malema said. “Many white people are concerned about us. Why do you worry that we want to take the land and share it with you? Let us all benefit from the land.”

Malema said the EFF wanted to change the character of local politics. “People need to know they can go to Parliament. We took a domestic worker to Parliament, the unemployed. When they start with complicated things in Parliament, she just says ‘our people have no water’. That is what our people want.”

Parliament has been turned “into something like heaven” where politicians dressed like they were going to a matric dance, he said. “They sat there for 20 years, not saying things. Passing everything that was done under apartheid.”

Malema admitted that it was hard for the party to spearhead reforms in Parliament as it has only 6 percent. “Everyone is scared of the EFF. We need to increase our numbers in Parliament.”

Malema also attacked ANC general secretary Gwede Mantashe, who this week said Malema resembled Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.

“Mantashe said I am going to be Hitler. Then the ANC is to be blamed. This is a Hitler produced to by the ANC. I will not kill anyone who is innocent,” he said.

He also said the new universities in Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape were “super high schools” because they can only accommodate about 300 students.

He poured cold water on claims that there were tensions in his party.

“We are not like Cope. We must lay a solid foundation because we are building a triple-storey and not the ANC’s RDP house. With you on the ground the future looks bright.”

Young people need to ask themselves how they are advancing the course for economic freedom, Malema said. “We cannot be a nation of nyaope smokers, we cannot be a generation that dies of Aids. You have to say, during our time we were fighting for freedom.”

He said the EFF belongs to the people. “This organisation belongs to members. Even if people do not elect me in December, I will subject myself to the leadership of this organisation.”

[email protected]

Pretoria News

Related Topics: