/ 20 November 2011

Change is in the wind, promises Malema

Change Is In The Wind

African National Congress Youth League president Julius Malema warned that the ANC’s national conference in Mangaung next year will radicalise the party.

At a press conference, ANC Youth League president Julius Malema responds to the ANC’s national disciplinary committee’s rulings. He emphasised that he, and the youth league, remain unshaken and would continue to fight for economic freedom, while retaining their membership and loyalty to the ANC.

“There is a groundswell of voices calling for change in the ANC with regards to the economy,” Malema wrote in an article published in the Sunday World.

The article was published unedited and in full.

“Nationalisation of mines and expropriation of land without compensation will be policy outcomes,” said Malema, adding the party’s new leadership would show signs of a generational mix.

He said the party had thrived in difficult conditions for close to a century because it tolerated divergent views and perspectives, which were tested and adopted once there was consensus.

He said it seemed there was a temptation to erode this tradition, replacing it with intolerance and impatience, with older people across the political spectrum fearing change.

“The South African racist society has somewhat influenced the older comrades to believe that what is today will be forever concerning the control and ownership of the economy,” he said.

“Any voice that contradicts the status quo is vulgarised, banished, and treated with disdain because the interests of the ruling class are threatened.”

Appeal
At a press briefing at Luthuli House in Johannesburg on November 16, Malema and league officials announced their intention to appeal the suspensions handed down to them by the party’s national disciplinary committee.

“We have formally decided to appeal these findings of the NDC [national disciplinary committee]. We can assure all ANCYL supporters they’ll be judged as unfounded,” Malema said.

Malema received a five-year suspension for bringing the party into disrepute following comments he made about bringing regime change in Botswana, as well as sowing division within the ANC after comparing the leadership styles of Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma.

Youth league secretary-general Sindiso Magaqa faces an 18-month suspension for derogatory comments he made about Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba. – Sapa and Staff reporter