Julius slams the ANC over broken promises

He says ministers who oppose the march are scared of losing their jobs

A DEFIANT Julius Malema yesterday warned party bosses that his expulsion would not end the poor's anger over government's failure to deliver on promises made since 1994.

Speaking at a packed community hall in Diepsloot - near Fourways in Johannesburg - ahead of this week's ANC Youth League march to President Jacob Zuma's Union Buildings offices and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, Malema also slammed cabinet ministers who have publicly condemned the planned protests.

"The ministers say don't be part of the march because we will collapse the ANC. After speaking that nonsense they go to their comfortable homes. They speak from prepared speeches and when they arrive home, they have forgotten what they said," Malema said.

Although Malema did not mention any minister by name, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa and Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande are among those who have called on the public not to join the march.

Malema told the crowd that the ministers opposed his plans because they feared losing their jobs.

"They know if they tell the truth they will be fired and lose their salaries," he said. "We are not fighting anyone, but reviving our government's consciousness that we need jobs, land, electricity, water . . . it has been proven that individuals can sell out. We want to put pressure on government that we want more," he said.

Malema pleaded with the residents to come out in numbers for the march, because if they did not stand up to raise these issues no one would free them from poverty.

"We want the land back and we do not want to pay because it was taken from us for free and our people were killed in the process."

He rejected accusations that he was calling for land grabs and attacks on white farmers. "We are not killing anyone, we are simply asking for what was taken from us. Their hands have the blood of many black people and we have never gone to the International Court [to charge them] for killing us.

"It they want to imprison me for [taking] what belongs to us, so let it be," he said.

He said all the youth league wanted was equitable sharing of the land.

"We are not chasing anyone away, but we live like pigs near what is called prime land that we cannot use."

Malema, who is facing serious charges in the ANC, is expected to appear before the party's disciplinary committee on Wednesday - just a day before the start of the two-day protest action.

He faces charges of sowing division and bringing the ANC into disrepute over a number of public statements he has made.

Yesterday, however, he appeared unfazed. "Even if you expel us, expelling Julius from the ANC will not resolve the problem of poverty. Expulsion is not a solution. The problem is the promises made in 1994. Our leaders have failed to deliver," he said.

He told the crowd that there would be buses and taxis to transport them for free on the day of the march.

ANCYL spokesman Floyd Shivambu said people would be bused in from various provinces and some would come by Metrorail trains to join the march.

He also said there were leaders like Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi who would join the march. Numsa has also publicly supported the march.

"Even if you are working tell your bosses that you will be joining the march," he said.