Johannesburg -
The ANCYL does not want President Jacob Zuma's support in its
bid for nationalisation, it wants the support of the masses, its
leader Julius Malema said on Thursday.
"We don't care who says what. Nationalisation will become the
policy of the ANC," he said during a memorial lecture at
Johannesburg's Wits University, commemorating former president
Nelson Mandela's release from prison 20 years ago.
"We don't want Zuma's or [Deputy Police Minister Fikile]
Mbalula's support... we want the support of the masses. If the
masses say you are correct, we will march on," Malema said.
On Tuesday, during debate on his state of the-nation address in
parliament, Zuma told opposition parties nationalisation of mines
was not government policy.
Malema, however, was determined to influence ANC branches to make
nationalisation party policy, which would then filter into the
government.
He was addressing a packed hall where he was received with
thunderous applause and enthusiastic song and dance. Ahead of
Malema's address, his audience watched a video clip of an interview
with Nelson Mandela, filmed shortly after his release from prison.
In the interview, Mandela said nationalisation was part of the
country's history and he did not understand how privatisation was
being justified. It would benefit only those with the resources to
buy into those industries, he said. Mandela said whites decided the
only way to control the country's blacks was to privatise.
In his speech, Malema described the current ANC leadership as
"sweethearts".
"Today they want to tell us they are the best thinkers and they
can interpret the freedom charter better than Nelson Mandela."
He said the struggle for today's youth was for "economic
emancipation", to "take command of the economy from the hands of
white males".
"We must say here today, following the clip we played, in our
lifetime we demand economic freedom."
He again attacked former president FW de Klerk.
"We must never compare De Klerk to Nelson Mandela. De Klerk must
be compared with [IFP leader] Mangosuthu Buthelezi, they served the
same master."
He extended his venom to Buthelezi and related how the IFP was
funded by security forces. While the party leader was "forgiven",
his deeds were "not forgotten".
'Clever grandson'
Joining Malema on stage was ANC NEC member Winnie
Madikizela-Mandela, who remarked that Malema was "clever" to use
archival information to back up his bid to nationalise mines.
"You are very clever, my grandson Julius... you went to collect
archival matter on nationalisation of the mines. I wonder where you
got it."
Madikizela-Mandela responded to newspaper reports on her absence
at Victor Verster prison in Cape Town last week to commemorate her
ex-husband's release.
"My family and I were not invited."
Earlier, Malema described Madikizela-Mandela as "populist",
praising her contribution to the struggle at length.
"You can call her what you want, if she is a populist, we will
support a populist," he said.
She responded by saying that if a populist was someone who
"exploited" the ignorant to "hold on to power" and sustain a
"luxury lifestyle and what we now call bling", she was not one.
"I seek none of that."
Madikizela-Mandela said it was important to remember all the
facets of Mandela and the leader he was.
"It is not enough to celebrate and quote him, we must walk in
his shoes and complete the long walk."
She referred to Mandela's statement while in the dock during the
Rivonia treason trial. He did not say he would die for an
individual, but rather for an ideal.
During a youth rally ahead of Zuma's appointment as president
and before corruption charges against him were withdrawn, Malema
said the league was "prepared to die for Zuma".
Madikizela-Mandela expressed regret about the persistent
inequalities in South Africa, saying large sectors of society still
lacked the resources to live dignified lives.
- Sapa