Don't vacate mineral-rich land, says Malema

ANC Youth League president Julius Malema has urged hundreds of Bantu Bonke township residents in Vereeniging, not to vacate the mineral-rich land they occupy should anyone want them to move.

“We heard that they want you to move from here, saying that Anglo [mining company] owns this place... That there must be an alternative plan because there is a discovery of some minerals here," Malema told the community in a packed hall on Sunday.

"The mineral that they have discovered, it must also be your mineral....If there is going to be mining here, you must not be removed because this is your land."

He said they had the right to continue living on their land and be party to mining and agricultural activity.

"Even the houses they want to give you are not proper houses. The land must be given to the people...people have been killed for this land."

AfriForum has laid a criminal charge of incitement to sedition against Malema, after he told people in Thembelihle in Lenasia, south of Johannesburg last week, to forcefully occupy land.

On Saturday, Malema told residents in Diepsloot, north of Johannesburg that he won't respond to Afriforum's criminal charges. He said he was prepared to go to jail in his fight for the poor.

Malema's visits are a way of drumming up support, ahead of the league's "economic freedom" mass march expected to take place on Thursday and Friday.

The league will target the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in Sandton, the Chamber of Mines in Johannesburg and the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

Malema, donning a black beret, said the government must return the land owned by white farmers back to its people.

"They [whites] found us here. They did not bring any land nor did they bring any minerals."

He then broke into his alternative rendition of Dubul' iBhunu (Shoot the Boer) called “Kiss the Boer”, dancing and waving his fist as people took videos and pictures of him, while others joined in chorus.

He left soon after his address in convoy.

So far, Malema has visited Thembelihle, Diepsloot and Ivory Park and the Methodist Church at Ratanda in Heidelburg, to mobilise support for the march.

His message constantly stressed the fight for economic emancipation, and ensuring that communities benefited from democracy.

A few community members that had waited in anticipation for Malema's arrival in Evaton ended up leaving the Sicelo Community Hall where he was scheduled to speak on Sunday afternoon.

It later emerged that Malema abandoned the rest of his Sunday programme, which also included a visit to Sebokeng's Zone 14, due to "logistical reasons".

"We were not comfortable in terms of preparations. People have been told that he won’t be coming anymore," said the league's additional member to the National Executive Committee Khusela Sangoni.

It was unlikely that Malema would return to these places due to his hectic programme ahead of the march, she said.

His disciplinary hearing will continue on Wednesday, at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.

It is speculated that ANC stalwart Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, and ANC National Executive Committee member Tony Yengeni will be the final witnesses to testify on Malema's defence.

Malema has been charged by the ANC in connection with his call for regime change in Botswana.