Johannesburg - ANC Youth League president Julius Malema has
urged hundreds of Bantu Bonke township residents in Vereeniging not to vacate
the mineral-rich land they occupy, should anyone want them to move.
"We heard Anglo (mining company) wants you to
move... they said there's alternative land because they have discovered a
mineral," Malema told the community in a packed hall on Sunday.
He said they had the right to continue living on their land
and be party to mining and agricultural activity.
"Even the houses they want to give you are not proper
houses. The land must be given to the people... people have been killed for this
land."
AfriForum has laid a criminal charge of incitement to sedition
against Malema, after he told people in Thembelihle in Lenasia, south of
Johannesburg, last week to forcefully occupy land.
On Saturday, Malema told residents in Diepsloot, north of
Johannesburg, that he would not respond to AfriForum's criminal charges. He said he
was prepared to go to jail in his fight for the poor.
Malema's visits are a way of drumming up support ahead of the league's "economic freedom" mass march expected to take place on Thursday and Friday. The league will target the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in Sandton, the Chamber of Mines in Johannesburg and the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
Malema, donning a black beret, said the government must
return the land owned by white farmers to its people.
"They (whites) found us here. They did not bring any
land nor did they bring any minerals."
He then broke into his alternative rendition of Dubul'
iBhunu (shoot the boer) called "kiss the boer", dancing and waving
his fist as people took videos and pictures of him, while others joined in chorus.
He left in convoy soon after his address.
So far, Malema has visited Thembelihle, Diepsloot and Ivory
Park and the Methodist Church at Ratanda in Heidelburg to mobilise support for
the march.
His message constantly stressed the fight for economic
emancipation, and ensuring that communities benefit from democracy.
A few community members that had waited in anticipation for
Malema's arrival in Evaton ended up leaving the Sicelo Community Hall where he
was scheduled to speak on Sunday afternoon.
It later emerged that Malema abandoned the rest of his
Sunday programme, which also included a visit to Sebokeng's Zone 14, due to
"logistical reasons".
"We were not comfortable in terms of preparations.
People have been told that he won't be coming any more," said the league's
additional member to the national executive committee Khusela Sangoni.
It was unlikely that Malema would return to these places due
to his hectic programme ahead of the march, she said.
His disciplinary hearing will continue on Wednesday, at the
FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.
It is speculated that ANC stalwart Winnie
Madikizela-Mandela and ANC national executive committee member Tony Yengeni
will be the final witnesses to testify on Malema's defence.
Malema has been charged by the ANC in connection with his
call for regime change in Botswana.