Juju hits back at Mantashe

05 August 2011 - 03:08 By NKULULEKO NCANA and SIPHILISELWE MAKHANYA
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ANC Youth League president Julius Malema. File photo. Picture: LAUREN MULLIGAN
ANC Youth League president Julius Malema. File photo. Picture: LAUREN MULLIGAN

A showdown is looming between the ANC and its youth wing as a defiant Julius Malema has accused ruling party secretary-general Gwede Mantashe of "using headlines" to attack its views on Botswana.

Speaking at a public lecture at the University of Johannesburg's Soweto campus, Malema said the league had not contradicted the ruling party's policy positions as cited by Mantashe and ANC spokesman Jackson Mthembu earlier this week.

The ANC will on Monday hold a bilateral meeting with the youth league and the Botswana issue will take centre stage.

On Sunday the youth league executive, led by Malema, said it would set up a "command team" to promote unity among opposition parties in Botswana with the aim of toppling President Ian Khama's elected government.

The statement drew strong condemnation from the ANC, with Mantashe on Wednesday accusing the league of publicly showing a "desire to undermine the ANC leadership".

Yesterday, Malema instead fired a broadside at the ANC, accusing Mantashe and Mthembu of attempting to stifle debate on political positions taken by the league.

"At our congress the BNF [Botswana National Front] spoke in front of everybody, not in the toilets. Why do we want to become a generation of cowards? They openly and proudly associated themselves with us [during apartheid]. Why can't we do the same? BNF must be supported by strategy and tactics. Not to overthrow. What's regime-changing about that?" Malema asked.

"When the DA calls for regime change in Zimbabwe, no one says anything. Do you want to suppress debate? It can never be . Is there a problem of policy or individuals? You want to engage us through headlines. This was a political view . there's no contradiction."

"We will continue to associate with BNF. While the ANC was trying to overthrow apartheid, other parties associated with us openly; they didn't just write press statements. They gave us arms, they gave us food . they openly and proudly associated themselves with the ANC. Why can't we do that ourselves today?

Malema slammed former president FW de Klerk, labelling him the "enemy" and said he did not understand why he was being celebrated as though he was responsible for former head of state Nelson Mandela's release from prison.

"Mandela was never released by De Klerk. He was released by the people of South Africa. Why today are we forced to celebrate De Klerk? We don't have a crisis of heroes and heroines. We don't lack role models," Malema said to applause.

Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula, who arrived towards the end of Malema's address, continued the tirade, this time against his predecessor in the youth league, Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba.

Mbalula, supported by the league, hopes to eclipse Mantashe from his position at the ANC's national conference in 16 months' time. He criticised Gigaba and other leaders in the ANC who wanted the league to stop its debate on the nationalisation of mines.

"Anyone who says we must stop debating is wrong. They speak as if they come from independent platforms . They are sponsored by capital," Mbalula said.

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