'Economic war looming'

South Africa is on the brink of an "economic war" that threatens its security .

As violent protests spiral out of control, researchers, intelligence specialists and security organisations warn of impending national danger and more casualties.

The fears were voiced as axed ANC Youth League president Julius Malema - alleged to be inciting the violent demonstrations - encouraged soldiers south of Johannesburg this week to fight for "decent" wages and improved working conditions.

The Defence Ministry slammed his involvement with the military and in advance of his speaking to soldiers put its bases on high alert. Malema was accused by the ministry of incitement.

Researcher Michael Hough, of the University of Pretoria's Institute for Strategic Studies, said the country was in an economic war.

"We should be gravely concerned. Economic warfare underlies a vast amount of political conflict."

Hough said the biggest problem was the politicising of issues such as wage demands and working conditions.

"General strikes are known factors for revolutionary ideas and precipitate the final stages of revolutions. They are the cause of economic collapse, which, if infused with politics, as is happening, becomes an uncontrollable revolutionary force.

He said that though a wage strike could be resolved, it was virtually impossible to resolve politicised mass action disputes "which are becoming more violent".

"What we are seeing now is becoming worse. People will die. With the country barely able to support the 15million people on welfare there is growing dissent, especially among the unemployed.''

Hough said leadership changes would not help.

"The problem is bigger than leaders. It requires stringent good governance to address the crisis of poor skills development and corruption - driving factors in a revolution."

Malema's meeting with the soldiers was two weeks after he addressed thousands of Lonmin platinum miners striking for a R12500 a month salary.

Hough's warning was given as protesters at the Medupi power station construction site, in Mpumalanga, damaged heavy-lift cranes, disrupting construction.

Malema is expected to speak to these strikers soon.

Last week's of unrest at Medupi, according to an engineer, led to the destruction of cranes and vehicles in what has been described as orchestrated industrial sabotage.

According to intelligence sources, the strikes are part of a systematic attack on the economy and there are fears that they will spread to other crucial construction sites.

The Medupi engineer said the targeting of the cranes was deliberate.

"This is orchestrated. It is industrial sabotage linked to current strike action in the rest of the country."

SA Security Forces Union president Bheki Mvovo said information from the union's members - several of whom were in military intelligence - showed that Malema was ready to sponsor an Arab Spring-style uprising.

"He has targets: the military, intelligence agencies, police, metro police, universities, construction and mines. It is an attempt to destabilise the country. South Africa is facing a real danger," Mvovo said.

Theto Mahlakoana, spokesman for police and prisons union Popcru, said: "We are aware of his plot to address the police. The police must arrest him for inciting violence and instability."

SANDF spokesman Brigadier-General Xolani Mabanga said the military command was in control.

" The defence force has structures for troops to air grievances. The soldiers who met Malema are a minority. They are facing military trials for marching on the Union Buildings in 2009." - Additional reporting by TJ Strydom