In article for the Rand Daily Mail, Rian Malan questions what Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema really values.
In the article, Malan tries to decipher Malema’s beliefs, saying that his words often jar with his actions, and even with previous statements. He mentions Fiona Forde’s biography of Malema, Still an Inconvenient Youth: Julius Malema Carries On, saying it contains evidence of the intimidation tactics he used to kickstart his career with the ANC Youth League.
Malan says Malema is undoubtedly a powerful and volatile character in South African politics, but not one who is easy to understand. “In short: only Malema is tough enough to stand up to and defeat the mighty ANC,” he says. “Maybe so. But what then?”
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Malema is also quick to present himself as a staunch constitutionalist. “The rot has eaten away the government of this country,” he said earlier this year. “The only thing left for us is the Constitution. Let us protect it with everything we have.”
Another fine sentiment, but does he really believe it?
Malema’s very first appearance in South African newspapers in 2002 involved a student protest in downtown Johannesburg that degenerated into looting and violence. According to his biographer Fiona Forde, his campaign for the ANC Youth League presidency relied heavily on intimidation. Back in 2007, when he and Jacob Zuma were still allies, he famously declared himself willing to kill on behalf of the president. There is implied violence in his support for Zimbabwean tyrant Robert Mugabe, and in his depiction of whites as “thieves who should be treated as such”. In September 2014 he was at it again, threatening to take up arms if the ANC used violence to block his rise to power.
Book details
- Still an Inconvenient Youth: Julius Malema Carries On by Fiona Forde
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EAN: 9781770103962
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