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ANC Youth League President Faces Disciplinary Hearing in South Africa
September 12, 2011
By: Carlos Aramayo | Printer Friendly

On September 2, the Financial Times (FT) published a commentary on South African politician, Julius Malema. The 30-year-old head of the African National Congress’ (ANC) resurgent youth league has come under fire and is risking suspension from the movement due to a series of controversial statements. In his statements, Malema has called for regime change in neighboring Botswana, argued for the expropriation of white-owned land, and the nationalization of the country’s mining sector.

In response to his Botswana comment, Malema was called to an ANC disciplinary hearing after he was charged, along with five other youth league members, with sowing division and embarrassing the ANC. In addition, Malema is facing a police investigation into alleged corruption and fraud in the midst of growing scrutiny from the national media of his allegedly bountiful lifestyle and numerous properties.

According to the FT, Malema’s aggressive and controversial rhetoric has “has won the hearts of poorer black South Africans losing faith in the government’s ability to lift them out of poverty.” Moreover, Malema’s actions have reportedly raised racial tensions and in the process have “embarrassed other ANC factions into questioning the effectiveness of policies such as black economic empowerment and land distribution at a time that many in the ruling party share the view that white-owned businesses have been slow to relax their grip on the levers of the economy.”  

Within the ANC, Malema appears to have supporters and detractors. His backers argue he is the “voice of the voiceless,” however, others think he is a “dangerous populist paralyzing government.” Malema’s final mistake might have been to take on South African President Jacob Zuma, who is also the party president. The FT points out that Malema’s hearing is a sign that “some powerful ANC backers have decided he is more trouble than he is worth.”

According to Prince Mashele, Director of the Centre for Policy and Research, to understand Malema’s popularity among young poor South Africans “you have to understand the history of the youth league, formed 60 years ago by younger members including Nelson Mandela who felt the ANC was too passive.” In Mashele’s view, Malema has followed in the footsteps of predecessors who used the league to “force more radical policy and gain influence.”

On September 12, Reuters reported that the polemic politician was found guilty of hate speech for singing an apartheid-era song that called for the killing of white farmers. The case was brought to the South Gauteng High Court by the Afrikaner civil rights group Afriforum on the basis that “white farmers felt threatened by the song.”

The civil case which was overseen by Judge Collin Lamont did not carry a criminal penalty. To justify his decision, Lamont stated that words were "powerful weapons" and added that the song had no place in the new South African society where the "enemy" has now become a "friend." Furthermore, as part of the verdict, Lamont ordered Malema and the ANC to stop singing the song in public or private, Reuters reported.

In response, the ANC spokesman Jackson Mthembu said his organization respected the judge’s decision, but had questions about the judge's arguments. "We view this judgement as an attempt to rewrite the South African history which is not desirable and unsustainable," Mthembu stated.

Sources:
Financial Times - Violent clashes outside Malema hearing

Financial Times - Unions call on ANC to investigate Malema

Financial Times - Unions call on ANC to investigate Malema

Financial Times - ANC rebukes youth league over Botswana comments

Financial Times – Commentary; Firebrand whips up a South African storm

Reuters - S.Africa's Malema found guilty of hate speech