/ 18 June 2008

Malema’s words not a call to arms, says Zuma

Controversial comments made by African National Congress Youth League president Julius Malema on June 16 were not a call for the youth to take up arms, ANC president Jacob Zuma said on Wednesday.

Malema told a Youth Day rally in Thaba Nchu in the Free State on Monday: ”We are prepared to die for Zuma. We are prepared to take up arms and kill for Zuma.”

He was speaking in the context of Zuma’s corruption trial.

Independent Democrats leader Patricia de Lille on Tuesday lodged a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission over the remarks made by Malema.

In the complaint, De Lille views Malema’s comments as ”inflammatory, dangerous, irresponsible and an incitement to violence”.

”For a youth leader, Mr Malema is setting the wrong example completely, especially in a society where there is tendency to settle disagreements through violent means. In effect, he is perpetuating and contributing to a culture of violence,” she said.

De Lille appealed to the commission to make a ruling on this matter, adding that besides the right to life, Malema had also violated the right to free political activity.

On Wednesday, Zuma said Malema had explained that his statements were not a call to the youth to engage in criminal or violent behaviour.

”It cannot be correct for anyone to incite any section of our society to violence or to commit murder, for any reason whatsoever. We are in agreement with the youth league in this regard.

Zuma was speaking at Leadership magazine’s ”Tomorrow’s Leaders” convention in Pretoria.

”The ANC Youth League has assured us that it has not wavered from the principles enshrined in the Constitution and as ANC members and leaders, and we will not do anything to jeopardise the gains we have made since 1994,” Zuma said.

Referring to the current situation in the ANC after recent media reports on a crisis within the party, he said: ”We do face challenges as the ANC, dating back many years. The Polokwane conference in 2007 will indicate the organisational problems relating to ill-discipline and general erosion of the value system among some members of the movement.

”At the conference we took resolutions to work for organisational renewal, and to eradicate ill discipline and thuggery where it rears its ugly head,” said Zuma.

He said the ANC will succeed in this regard as the majority of its members are disciplined and loyal cadres, adding that the party has an unwavering support for the rule of law, as well as the independence of the judiciary and respect for the country’s criminal justice system.

”While we may have some outstanding issues with some elements within the criminal justice system, that does not mean we intend to resort to any unconstitutional means to fight back,” Zuma said.

Malema on Tuesday denied that his statement was an incitement to violence.

In an interview with the South African Broadcasting Corporation, he said: ”And we never said the youth must take up arms and kill. We said ‘if the need arises’. That need is not here. That need will not arise any time soon.

”But we are issuing a warning, an alert to those who think we are asleep, that we are watching them and that they should never test our patience.”

He was asked if, in light of the recent xenophobic violence in South Africa, his words could not be interpreted by the masses as a call to violence.

He replied: ”No, no, they won’t do that, the South Africans are not that ignorant. South Africans are highly conscious politically. They respect the law and they respect the institutions of our government.

”The same with the ANC Youth League. They won’t do that. There are people who just try and distort and sensationalise the whole issue on the killing.” — Sapa