Johannesburg - Expelled ANC Youth League president Julius Malema is preparing the ground to form a new political party.
The organisation will advocate a radical policy shift in favour of black South Africans.
The Star can reveal that Malema is consulting his supporters with a view to establishing a movement that will “restore the dignity of blacks” and reduce inequality between rich and poor.
In an exclusive interview with the paper on Sunday, the firebrand said the envisaged “forum” would fight for social justice rather than reconciliation and resume an “onslaught against white male monopoly capital”.
It would push for the expropriation of land without compensation and nationalisation of the country’s mines, and force the beneficiaries of apartheid to be remorseful “and behave in a manner that says they regret their conduct”.
Malema has ruled out the possibility of joining other parties – including Agang and the DA – saying he did not agree with their policies.
The former youth leader’s comments can been seen as his clearest indication yet that he plans to form a party.
The Star has also learnt that an intelligence report handed over to President Jacob Zuma last year has warned that Malema planned to establish a party.
Malema implored the youth to revolt against the current state of affairs in the ANC and the country.
He accused Zuma of dictatorship, undermining internal democracy in the ANC and of presiding over a country that was deteriorating politically and economically.
The firebrand said corruption and abuse of public funds were rampant, while the culprits were being exonerated through “micro-managed” investigations.
He said a probe that cleared Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa of wrong-doing after it emerged that the police’s slush fund was used to build a wall around his private house was just one example.
Malema said that after watching these developments, he had decided to organise “radical militants” in and outside the ANC “to come together and talk about an alternative platform”.
“I think we should find a way of sitting together and decide what to do. We are being molested here. I refuse to sit back. It can’t be. And I think there should be some sort of an announcement soon,” Malema said.
Rejecting all opposition parties as irrelevant, Malema added that his new forum would provide alternative policies.
“We need a party that demands justice in this country, that will say we need the land that was taken from our people and we are not going to pay for it. A party that will say those who were victims of apartheid stand to benefit unashamedly and those who perpetuated apartheid must show remorse and behave in a manner that says they regret their conduct,” Malema said.
He accused Zuma of purging and destroying political opponents, including ANCYL leaders aligned with him, “because of pure political jealousy, paranoia and fear of the unknown”.
Malema said the victims included the former Limpopo ANC provincial executive committee under Premier Cassel Mathale and former North West ANC secretary Kabelo Mataboge, who was suspended from the ANC for three years last week.
“When they were arguing for our expulsion and suspension, they said we did not show remorse, but when Kabelo goes and says ‘we will work with the new leadership’, they still cut off his head. Even Ronald Lamola, after making a long trip to Nkandla after Mangaung to pledge the youth league’s support, they still kicked him out.
“The Limpopo provincial executive committee under Soviet Lekganyane released a statement insulting me for political expediency… that still did not spare them.”
Malema added that the rule of law had collapsed because state organs like Sars and the Hawks were “loyal to individuals and not institutions”.
The two agencies are probing Malema for alleged tender corruption. His house and other assets have been auctioned off to pay off a R16 million debt owed to Sars.
The Star