Malema: Ramaphosa a hypocrite

Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema

Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema

Published Nov 15, 2013

Share

 

Johannesburg - ANC deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa's use of the term “boer” reveals his hypocrisy, Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema said in a letter published on Politicsweb this week.

He said the term during the Struggle referred to the repressive, violent and racist apartheid system, but that Ramaphosa used the term to “hoodwink and mislead”.

The Star reported on Monday that Ramaphosa had urged Limpopo residents to vote or the “boers” would take back power.

“If you don't vote, the boers will come back to control us,” Ramaphosa apparently said in Seshego, during a conversation with a resident.

He later explained that he had used the word to refer to the apartheid regime and that it was unfortunate his statement had caused offence.

Malema said the country should reject Ramaphosa's hypocrisy because he was a “new boer”.

“To this day the workers have not been given R12 500, and Cyril Ramaphosa is benefiting from the blood and sweat of these workers as a director of London Mine [Lonmin],” Malema wrote in his letter.

He was referring to the R12 500 a month basic salary demanded by workers at Lonmin's Marikana platinum mine during their strike in August last year. In the ensuing unrest 44 people were killed -- 34 in a clash with police on August 16; and 10 people, including two policemen and two security guards, in the preceding week.

The dominant Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union lowered its wage increase demand this week.

Malema said in his letter the only alternative was to vote for the EFF, which, according to him, would emancipate the masses from exploitation and oppression.

“EFF government will not prevent workers who demand R12 500 per month salary; instead, we will make sure that such is the minimum wage for all workers,” he said in the letter.

“EFF government will abolish the private game lodges of the rich who buy buffaloes for R18 million and turn those into land for our people to produce food.” - Sapa

Related Topics: