African National Congress Youth League members danced, sang and blew vuvuzelas in support of their president Julius Malema outside the ANC’s headquarters in Johannesburg on Monday night.
Supporters are holding a vigil outside Luthuli House ahead of Malema and league spokesperson Floyd Shivambu’s disciplinary hearings on Tuesday and Wednesday.
“The cowards are scared, we must shoot … shoot with a gun .. Viva Juju viva,” more than 70 ANCYL members sang as they marched through the streets to Luthuli House.
Some of them carried placards denouncing everything from capitalism to Botswana 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.
“Please comrade [Congress of South African Trade Unions general secretary Zwelinzima] Vavi, [South African Communist Party general secretary Blade] Nzimande, [ANC secretary general Gwede] Mantashe, we need constructive politics. I will die for Julius … The people will govern,” read another.
Last week, the ANC announced that Malema and Shivambu would face disciplinary hearings on charges of bringing the party into disrepute and sowing division.
Malema recently said the youth 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 on duty at Luthuli House on Monday night, and roads around the building were closed to traffic.
Amplifying the message
A team of sound engineers set up a microphone and speakers so that supporters’ message would be “strengthened”.
“Eish, we are just starting, this is going to go on for the whole night,” said one of the engineers, who asked not to be named.
An ANCYL member said the turnout was small because it was a week night.
“Most people are at work, or are tired at the end of the day. Tomorrow the crowd might get bigger. We just have to wait and see,” she said. She also asked not to be named.
Police outside Luthuli House said roads in the area would be possibly be closed on Tuesday.
In May last year, Malema was found guilty of bringing the ANC into disrepute after he attacked President Jacob Zuma for rebuking him in public and compared him to his predecessor Thabo Mbeki while addressing the media.
The ANC’s national disciplinary committee fined him R10 000 and ordered him to attend anger management classes. It also ruled that if he was found guilty of dividing the party again within two years, his party membership would be suspended.
On Friday, Malema said he was ready to face his disciplinary hearing.
“Whatever happens to us, we are ready for that … People should know that even if we are fired tomorrow, our blood will remain black, green and gold,” he said.
The ANCYL members were joined by protesting Vodacom employees.
“Our protest has just started and this is a good chance for both causes to be heard. We are joining this [vigil] because Malema is against capitalism,” said an unnamed protester.
Analysts said suspension of Malema’s executive could also lead to a power vacuum and an opportunity for the league’s top brass to be replaced with pro-Zuma sympathisers.
“If the ANC defines your future as expulsion, we are ready for that,” a defiant Malema told reporters on Monday but warned the league’s call to nationalise mines could not be suppressed.
“This does not delay our economic struggle. We see this as a setback for the revolution we are pursuing. We will continue to push for economic freedom in our lifetime.” – Sapa, Reuters
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