It’s hard to keep track of how African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) leader Julius Malema feels about President Jacob Zuma.
Just two years ago he said he was prepared to fight to the death for him — particularly if it was those he fought who would be doing the dying. But these days Malema is making increasingly ominous noises about Zuma. Is he a faithful weathervane of the changing winds of Zuma’s popularity, or merely a petulant child, upset at being chastised by Zuma earlier this year? Read his quotes and decide.
June 16 2008: “We are prepared to die for Zuma. We are prepared to take up arms and kill for Zuma.” Free State Youth Day rally
June 11 2008: “The sham of the investigation against him, which has lasted seven years, has been so badly tainted [that] the prospects of a fair trial is nothing but an illusion — We will, therefore, challenge the courts to dismiss this case on these grounds.” ANCYL national congress at Nasrec, Johannesburg. (The Sowetan, June 12 2008)
September 14 2008: “Anybody who seeks to reopen it [Zuma’s corruption case] will only be viewed as public enemy No 1 with little or no interest of the country at heart. [Prosecutions head] Mokotedi Mpshe must respect and agree with that judgement.” ANCYL statement following Pietermaritzburg High Court Judge Chris Nicholson judgement in favour of Zuma.
January 22 2009: “When a woman didn’t enjoy it, she leaves early in the morning. Those who had a nice time will wait until the sun comes out, request breakfast and ask for taxi money — You can’t ask for money from somebody who raped you.”
Addressing Cape Peninsula University of Technology students about Zuma’s rape trial.
April 11 2010: “… I was shocked by what happened … even president [Thabo] Mbeki, having differed with the youth league and the youth league taking such firm radical positions against him, I have never seen him doing that before.” ANC Youth League provincial conference in Limpopo, following Zuma’s public rebuke of Malema for his pro Zanu-PF comments after his Zimbabwe trip, his statements on the murder of AWB leader Eugene Terre’Blanche, and his verbal abuse of a BBC reporter.
August 27 2010: “President Jacob Zuma’s future will be determined by the structures of the ANC. If we arrive at a different determination, people will know. The president is elected to serve one term. If this president is determined to serve a second term, that will be determined by the next congress.” Mail & Guardian interview at the ANCYL NGC.
August 2010 27: “Broad-based BEE does not work, it has failed. We see the children of those in power and friends of those who are in power accumulating property and our people don’t [get anything]. It can’t be broad-based and continue to benefit the families of those who are in power.” Speaking at the ANCYL NGC, in a dig at Zuma’s son, Duduzane Zuma, who benefited from an R800-million empowerment deal through ArcelorMittal. He added later in the speech that it was still too early to say if Zuma “is one of our best presidents”.
September 7 2010: “We will not allow that resources of this country continue to enrich politicians and their families and those connected to them.” Mining for change summit in Johannesburg.
Next up: the ANC national general council, which runs from September 20 to 24. Has Zuma’s favour with the youth league entirely run out? Watch our coverage during the ruling party’s most important meeting since Polokwane and decide.