Julius Malema has told the University of Limpopo's SRC not to live lavish lifestyles while in office - to avoid the impression of "selling out".
The student leaders should not buy plasma television sets, expensive clothes or change residences as that would create the impression they had "sold out", the expelled ANC Youth League leader told a capacity crowd at the university's Tiro Hall, on the Turfloop campus.
"Once you leave [the residence], you are going to forget easily."
Malema said the power the student body had entrusted the student representative council leaders with would test their character.
"Power does not change a man, power makes you see the real man."
He advised SRC leaders to pick beautiful girlfriends.
"Even when you choose a girlfriend, you must choose a proper one," he said to cheers.
Successful revolution
During his 90-minute speech, Malema drew comparisons between Zimbabwe and South Africa, citing the former as an example of a successful revolution.
He said both countries combined had 80% of the world's platinum reserves and that the West had no choice but to invest in this sector.
He said Zimplats – one of the major mines Zanu-PF took under its control a few years ago – was successfully run by blacks without any equipment bought from Western countries.
He said the country had taken tobacco farms from 4 000 white families and given them to 57 000 black families, and that these remained productive.
"Zimbabweans are producing gold using manual methods without machines. Can you imagine if they could give them machines? They can't get machines because they are under sanctions," he said, following a weekend visit to Zimbabwe to meet "progressive forces".
Wholesale nationalisation
He said the youth league had never advocated wholesale nationalisation but simply wanted greater state control in key sectors of the economy.
"We can actually do without them [foreign investors]. We don't want to chase them from South Africa. We are saying to them come let's work together. We have never said they must go away. We said to them if you are owning 1 000 hectares of land, give us 800 and be left with 200."
He criticised President Jacob Zuma for the Nkandla homestead saga, ANC heavyweight Cyril Ramaphosa for attempting to buy a buffalo for R18-million and later a multi-million rand car.
He questioned the nominations of three prominent businessmen, including ANC treasurer Mathews Phosa, for the post of ANC deputy president. – Sapa