/ 9 April 2010

ANC rebukes youth league over Zim comments

Anc Rebukes Youth League Over Zim Comments

The African National Congress (ANC) on Friday said that the ANC Youth League’s (ANCYL) expression of support for Zanu-PF undermines South Africa’s mediation efforts in Zimbabwe.

The party is seeking an “urgent meeting” with its youth movement to discuss the matter.

“The ANC would also like to strongly disagree and distance itself from utterances by the ANCYL at its press conference yesterday [Thursday] that it will support President Robert Mugabe and his Zanu-PF to win the forthcoming general elections in Zimbabwe,” ANC spokesperson Jackson Mthembu said in a statement.

“The ANC, together with its government, would like to see all political parties in Zimbabwe [the two MDCs and Zanu-PF] implementing the spirit and the letter of the global political agreement.

“It is therefore our view that the ANCYL’s expression of support for one party in Zimbabwe goes against our country and President [Jacob] Zuma’s mediation efforts in that country.”

Youth league leader Julius Malema on Thursday held a media briefing following his recent visit to Zimbabwe — where he met Mugabe, central bank Governor Gideon Gono and the leadership of Zanu-PF and its youth movement.

Malema described the visit as successful and hailed Zimbabwe’s controversial land-reform programme. He also expressed the ANCYL’s wish to see Mugabe’s Zanu-PF returned to power after elections in Zimbabwe.

Mthembu said the ANC would arrange a meeting with the ANCYL to discuss their qualms.

Struggle songs
Mthembu said the party would also raise the matter of singing struggle songs and Malema’s comments on slain AWB leader Eugene Terre’Blanche.

“In this envisaged urgent meeting, the ANC will also sharply raise with the ANCYL its utterances in matters relating to the death of Mr Eugene Terre’Blanche.”

During the briefing, Malema dismissed claims that Terre’Blanche’s death was linked to his singing the song with the words “shoot the boer”.

“Its not about the song … they [the murder accused] wanted what rightfully belongs to them — salary,” Malema said.

“This man [Terre’Blanche] has been a distaste to the people he lived with, including the animals … the horse itself would not tolerate him.”

He said he understood the pain Terre’Blanche’s family was experiencing and that they were looking for a “scapegoat”.

Mthembu also took issue with Malema’s treatment of a journalist during the briefing and also lashed out at AWB secretary general Andre Visagie who allegedly threatened a political commentator at the eNews broadcasting studios.

“This action by Mr Visagie equally does not augur well for the freedom of expression, as enshrined in our Constitution.

“What is even more glaring on this matter is that Mr Visagie threatened a woman political commentator with the intention to harm during a live TV broadcast.”

The political commentator, Lebohang Pheko, reportedly intends to file charges of intimidation with the police.

Visagie became agitated when Pheko confronted him with the abuse of farm workers, reports said. — Sapa