African National Congress Youth League supporters blew vuvuzelas and danced in the streets of Johannesburg on Monday night in support of the league’s president Julius Malema.
“The cowards are scared, we must shoot … shoot with a gun,” over 70 league members sang as they marched to the ANC’s Luthuli House headquarters.
Some carried placards denouncing everything from capitalism and Vodacom to Botswana’s President Ian Khama.
“We say no to a military base in our continent that is under USA control. Ian Khama — the puppet — an insult to Africa. Viva Julius Malema,” read a placard.
The group burned a Vodacom T-shirt and danced around it.
“We must be disciplined,” one of the members said as the group blocked traffic at a robot.
Charges
Last week, the ANC announced that Malema, league spokesperson Floyd Shivambu, its deputy president Ronald Lamola, secretary general Sindiso Magaqa, his deputy Kenetswe Mosenogi and treasury general Pule Mabe would face disciplinary hearings on charges of bringing the party into disrepute and sowing division.
Malema recently said the league would send a team to Botswana to consolidate local opposition parties and help bring about regime change, as it believed the government there was “in full cooperation with imperialists” and was undermining the “African agenda”.
More than 200 police officers were deployed around Luthuli house on Monday night to monitor the vigil.
Roads around the building were closed to traffic to make way for league supporters.
The disciplinary hearings are scheduled to take place on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Police outside Luthuli House said roads would be closed all Monday night, and possibly the whole of Tuesday.
Bus loads of support
The league earlier said it did not mobilise people to come to Luthuli House to show support.
“It has come to our attention through media reports that many people from across the country … will descend to Johannesburg to give support,” Malema said at a press briefing held the ANC’s headquarters.
“We are not busing people to Luthuli House.”
He said the league’s national office had not asked its provincial branches to send supporters.
“Pick up this issue with the provinces who announced they are coming.”
Discipline and respect
The youth league called on those who were coming to be disciplined.
“Those who come to pledge support should do so with restraint and show maximum levels of discipline,” said Malema.
“No one has the right to disrespect the disciplinary in our name.”
Malema said the ANCYL had heard reports that people were ready to shoot at unarmed people.
“Peace and unity should prevail until the conclusion. We are disciplined members of the organisation [ANC] and respect the leadership,” he added. — Sapa
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